Factors Influencing Adherence to Proper Health Care Waste Management Practices among Health Workers in Wakiso District, Uganda
Author(s): Josephine Babirye, Peter Vuzi, David R. Mutekanga
The adherence to proper health care waste management practices among health workers in developing country public health facilities is still a major challenge. This study was therefore conducted to identify the factors influencing the adherence within Wakiso District in Central Uganda. The specific objectives were to establish the level of adherence to proper health care waste management practices among health workers through identification of both the individual and the health facility related factors that influence this adherence. This was conducted in selected public health facilities. Quantitative data was collected using the researcher administered questionnaire while qualitative data was collected using the key informant interview guide. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences while qualitative data was used to supplement the findings. The results show that only 10.5% of the health workers adhered to proper health care waste management practices and the most influential health facility factors included the level of Health facility, provision of personal protective equipment and availability of staff and waste handlers to handle. However, the results also show that the provision of personal protective equipment and the level of Health facility were the only independent factors associated with adherence to proper health care waste management. The study findings further established that none of the individual factors influence adherence to proper health care waste management and that adherence was also less likely to occur in health facilities where health workers were provided with personal protective equipment and among Health workers. It is therefore recommended that there is need to increase funding towards environmental sanitation and to create awareness and training among the health workers on the risks of improper management of health care waste if adherence is to be achieved.