Health Care Waste Collection Practices and Associated Risks in Health Care Facilities in North-West Senatorial District of Benue State, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated healthcare waste (HCW) collection practices and associated risks in healthcare facilities in North-West Senatorial District of Benue State. The study adopted a cross- sectional descriptive design. The population of the study was 2,510 healthcare workers in primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities in North-West Senatorial District of Benue State. A sample size of 232 healthcare workers was derived from the population using proportionate sampling. A valid 14-item questionnaire named Health Care Waste Collection Practices and Associated Risks Questionnaire (HCWCP&ARQ) with a Cronbach’s Alpha reliability Coefficient index of 0.85 was used for data collection. Frequency counts and percentages were used to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and to answer the research questions. Pearson chi-square was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. The results revealed poor HCW collection practices in    health facilities as most of the study participants indicated non-separation of containers for collection of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes (60.8%), non-segregation of sharps with colour-coding containers (59.5%), improper placement of waste bins around facility premises (59.9%) and non-use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by waste handlers during HCW collection (52.2%) in their health facilities. Results further revealed that the associated risks with waste collection practices were:  exposing waste handlers to infectious diseases (60.3%), littering the environment (59.9%), cross-contamination (59.9%), sharp-inflicted injuries (58.6%), and air pollution (58.2%). Results of chi-square analysis indicate significant association in HCW collection practices ꭓ² (2, N = 232) = 111.0, p < .001) with tertiary health facilities having better management practices than secondary and primary health facilities. Chi-square analysis further indicated significant association in risks with HCW practices, ꭓ² (2, N = 232) = 121.1, p < .001) with primary health facilities having higher risks than others. It was recommended that Healthcare Waste Management Committee (HCWMC) should be constituted in each health facility with the mandate to enforce compliance with best health care waste collection practices to reduce associated risks in health care facilities in North-West Senatorial District of Benue State, North-Central, Nigeria.