Safety concerns over biomedical waste management in a tertiary care centre of North Kerala
Journal Title: Public Health Review - Year 2017, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction: Exposure to infected body fluids and contact with contaminated materials while handling bio medical waste make health workers at high risk for blood borne infections. Objective: To assess safety precaution profile and biomedical waste management practices among different categories of health staff. Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 141 health care personnel of a tertiary care center on single shift of a day using a structured pre- tested interview schedule. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 trial version. Results: The study population included 25 (17.6%) doctors, 59 (41.5%) nurses, 14 (9.9%) nursing assistants, 19 (13.4%) hospital attendants and 13 (9.2%) lab technicians and 11 (7.8%) other daily wage cleaning staff involved in waste management. 104 (73.8%) were females. 91 (64.5%) were permanent staff while 50 were on contract. 121 (89.4%) had work experience more than 1year.71 (50.4%) received no training on bio medical waste management and 18 (12.8%) had training within 6 months. Only 74 (52.1%) were fully immunized against Hepatitis B with a significantly less coverage among nursing assistants and hospital attendants (p=.000). 60(42.6%) had sharp injury male sex (p=.042), being in category of nursing assistants (p=.000), permanent job status (p=.000) and experience more than 5 years in absence of training (p=.010) were risk factors significantly associated with sharp injury.101 (72.3%) always segregated waste as per categories and 110 (78%) always used gloves while handling it. Conclusions: Around half of the health personnel are not following safety practices and sustained sharp injuries while handling biomedical waste. Only half of the health personnel were immunized against Hepatitis B.
Authors and Affiliations
Sabitha Rose Jacob, Anitha Bhaskar, Rony Varkey George, 4Harikrishnan G
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- EP ID EP287299
- DOI 10.17511/ijphr.2017.i1.04
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