KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES ON ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG MAKERERE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, KAMPALA, UGANDA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

PHILLIAM  JABIM; DAVID  MUSOKE

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1359

Authors

Philliam Jabim Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
David Musoke Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1359

Keywords:

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, Electronic waste, Students, Uganda

Abstract

Background

The need for electronics such as laptops and phones are on the rise, especially in academic institutions including universities. These electronics are required for day-to-day activities such as lectures and communication. As time goes by, these electronics may no longer be required by the original user hence resulting in high volumes of electronic waste (e-waste). This generation of e-waste requires proper management to protect human health and the environment. This study therefore assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on e-waste management among Makerere University students in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study using a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data was conducted among 336 Makerere University students. Collected data was analysed at a univariate level in STATA 14 software to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices on e-waste management among the students.

Results

The majority of participants 267 (79.5%) were aged between 20-25 years, and more than half 179 (53.3%) were males. Most participants 153 (45.5%) had low knowledge levels on e-waste management, though the majority 180 (53.6%) knew what e-waste is. The majority of participants 275 (81.8%) had positive attitudes toward e-waste management, and nearly all 319 (94.9%) agreed that e-waste should not be disposed of with general waste. Mobile phones 223 (42.6%) were the most disposed of e-waste. Many students 125 (35.3%) discarded e-waste by selling as second-hand.

Conclusion

There was low knowledge, positive attitudes, and poor practices towards e-waste management among the university students.

Recommendation

There is a need for various stakeholders to enhance knowledge among students regarding the effects of poor e-waste management on humans and the environment to improve management practices. For example, university administrations can organise campaigns, webinars, and seminars that focus on proper e-waste management including disposal practices and effects on human health and the environment.

Author Biography

David Musoke, Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.

David Musoke is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Kampala, Uganda. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Health Sciences from Makerere University, Uganda, MSc in International Primary Health Care from University of London, UK, and a PhD in Public Health from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. He is the Chair of the Grants and Research Capacity Building Committee, and Coordinator of the short course in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at MakSPH and was instrumental in its development. He is also an Affiliate Member of the African Academy of Sciences. His research is on environmental health (including WASH), health systems/services (such as maternal health, mental health, health-seeking behaviour, and human resources for health), and diseases (such as malaria, non-communicable diseases, and COVID-19). He is a member of many professional associations including Health Systems Global (HSG). Currently, he is Co-Chair of the Community Health Workers (CHWs) Thematic Working Group of HSG, as well as President-Elect of the International Federation of Environmental Health. He is an Academic Editor for the following journals: PLOS Global Public Health; BMC Public Health; and BMC Health Services Research. He is also a Senior Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University (UK).