FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IMPROPER BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN OLI HEALTH CENTRE IV, ARUA DISTRICT. A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Introduction 

The purpose of this study was to determine factors contributing to improper Biomedical Waste management among Health workers in Oli Health Centre IV, Arua District

The specific objectives of the study were to determine; the individual factors and health facility factors contributing to improper Biomedical waste management among health workers.

Methodology

The study employed a retrospective study design; a purposive sampling technique was used. Data was collected using a questionnaire on a sample of 50 respondents. Data was analyzed manually by use of tally sheets and entered in the Excel computer program to generate tables graphs and pie charts

Results

Most of the respondents (60%) who work in Oli Health Centre iv were Nurses, most of the respondents (44%) were married, most of the respondents (60%) were females, most of the respondents (60%) did not receive training on biomedical waste management, most of the respondents (70%) segregated waste, majority of the respondents (96%) do use protective gears, majority of the respondents (64%) agreed that biomedical waste isn’t an extra burden on their work, majority of the respondents (100%) agreed that different wastes are generated by the facility.

Conclusion 

The overall results on individual factors about Biomedical waste management were pleasing in that most of the health workers always segregated waste at the point of generation, and knew the color-coded bins. about health facility related factors biomedical waste management was not so pleasing because few health workers knew about Biomedical waste management plans.

Recommendations

The health facility should provide more training sessions to Health Workers who are directly involved in medical waste management, and should also disseminate regulatory information which will help health workers to understand the issues and perform their jobs properly in compliance with those regulations.