Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri Lanka
Introduction: Healthcare waste encompasses all waste generated by healthcare facilities, including that from medical procedures. Approximately 10-25% of healthcare waste is hazardous while 75-90% are non-hazardous. Hazardous waste consists of sharp objects, infectious materials, pharmaceuticals, bi...
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College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of the College of Community Physicians |
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| Online Access: | https://account.jccpsl.sljol.info/index.php/sljo-j-jccpsl/article/view/8764 |
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| author | Kulanga Warnakulahewa Inoka Suraweera Prasanga Serasinghe |
| author_facet | Kulanga Warnakulahewa Inoka Suraweera Prasanga Serasinghe |
| author_sort | Kulanga Warnakulahewa |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: Healthcare waste encompasses all waste generated by healthcare facilities, including that from medical procedures. Approximately 10-25% of healthcare waste is hazardous while 75-90% are non-hazardous. Hazardous waste consists of sharp objects, infectious materials, pharmaceuticals, biological substances, cytotoxic agents, chemicals and radioactive materials. Effective management of healthcare waste involves reducing generation, segregating, collecting, transporting, storing, treating and disposing of it properly.
Objectives: To assess healthcare waste management practices and state of related healthcare waste management facilities in rural state hospitals in the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) Area, Ampara
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all secondary and primary level state hospitals (n=26) in the health region, Ampara. Data collection utilised observational checklists, desk review of relevant documents and interviews with key persons by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted using relative frequencies, while significant relationships were evaluated through Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests.
Results: The research achieved a 100% response rate allowing observations, desk reviews and questionnaire administration in all selected hospitals. Only two hospitals demonstrated satisfactory healthcare waste management practices. None of the hospitals had a proper mechanism to transport healthcare waste. Significant associations were found between the healthcare waste management practices of the hospitals and factors such as the presence of a healthcare waste management plan in the hospital (p=0.02), the existence of a focal point for healthcare waste management activities (p=0.03) and the availability of a mechanism for regular staff training (p=0.04).
Conclusions & Recommendations: The study recommends developing healthcare waste management plans, appointing focal points, establishing regular training mechanisms, allocating a separate budget, and forming healthcare waste management committees within hospitals.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-30d1fd3231e84edba82daa66eedaa58f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1391-3174 2579-1451 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the College of Community Physicians |
| spelling | doaj-art-30d1fd3231e84edba82daa66eedaa58f2025-01-30T18:57:35ZengCollege of Community Physicians of Sri LankaJournal of the College of Community Physicians1391-31742579-14512025-01-0130410.4038/jccpsl.v30i4.8764Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri LankaKulanga Warnakulahewa0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7149-3900Inoka Suraweera1Prasanga Serasinghe2Ministry of HealthMinistry of HealthMinistry of Health Introduction: Healthcare waste encompasses all waste generated by healthcare facilities, including that from medical procedures. Approximately 10-25% of healthcare waste is hazardous while 75-90% are non-hazardous. Hazardous waste consists of sharp objects, infectious materials, pharmaceuticals, biological substances, cytotoxic agents, chemicals and radioactive materials. Effective management of healthcare waste involves reducing generation, segregating, collecting, transporting, storing, treating and disposing of it properly. Objectives: To assess healthcare waste management practices and state of related healthcare waste management facilities in rural state hospitals in the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) Area, Ampara Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all secondary and primary level state hospitals (n=26) in the health region, Ampara. Data collection utilised observational checklists, desk review of relevant documents and interviews with key persons by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted using relative frequencies, while significant relationships were evaluated through Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: The research achieved a 100% response rate allowing observations, desk reviews and questionnaire administration in all selected hospitals. Only two hospitals demonstrated satisfactory healthcare waste management practices. None of the hospitals had a proper mechanism to transport healthcare waste. Significant associations were found between the healthcare waste management practices of the hospitals and factors such as the presence of a healthcare waste management plan in the hospital (p=0.02), the existence of a focal point for healthcare waste management activities (p=0.03) and the availability of a mechanism for regular staff training (p=0.04). Conclusions & Recommendations: The study recommends developing healthcare waste management plans, appointing focal points, establishing regular training mechanisms, allocating a separate budget, and forming healthcare waste management committees within hospitals. https://account.jccpsl.sljol.info/index.php/sljo-j-jccpsl/article/view/8764Healthcare wasteRural state hospitalsHealthcare waste managementWaste management practice |
| spellingShingle | Kulanga Warnakulahewa Inoka Suraweera Prasanga Serasinghe Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri Lanka Journal of the College of Community Physicians Healthcare waste Rural state hospitals Healthcare waste management Waste management practice |
| title | Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals, Ampara, Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | healthcare waste management practices in rural state hospitals ampara sri lanka |
| topic | Healthcare waste Rural state hospitals Healthcare waste management Waste management practice |
| url | https://account.jccpsl.sljol.info/index.php/sljo-j-jccpsl/article/view/8764 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kulangawarnakulahewa healthcarewastemanagementpracticesinruralstatehospitalsamparasrilanka AT inokasuraweera healthcarewastemanagementpracticesinruralstatehospitalsamparasrilanka AT prasangaserasinghe healthcarewastemanagementpracticesinruralstatehospitalsamparasrilanka |