Authors : ODUNOLA, Olutayo Olaitan, MORENIKEJI Timothy Oluseye, ODUNSI Oluwafemi Michael
Volume/Issue : Volume 4 - 2019, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar : https://goo.gl/DF9R4u
Scribd : https://bit.ly/2oVn1tZ
DOI : 10.38124/IJISRT19SEP1393
Efficient management of medical waste is a
necessity because of great risk improper/poor waste
management posed to the populace. This study assessed
medical waste management practice in University
College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria. Those that improper
waste management can affect are identified as the
sample frame, and they are health workers, waste
handlers, out-patients and residents. Sample size of 5%
of the 3000 staff strength of the study area was adopted
which amounted to one hundred and fifty (150)
respondents. A multistage sampling technique was
adopted in the sample selection and the administration
of the questionnaires until all copies of questionnaire
assigned for each category of respondents were
administered. Nine indices were developed, these were:
Waste Collection Index (WCI), Waste Storing Index
(WSI), Waste Treatment Index (WTI), Facility
Condition Index (FCI), Medical Waste Index (MWI),
Storage Factor Index (SFI), Waste Effect Index (WEI),
Waste Preventive Index (WPI) and Health Workers
Satisfactory Index (HSI).The study observed that
punctured proof container has WCI of 4.49; lidded
container has the highest WSI of 4.56, while compositing
and landfill has the highest WTI of 3.67. Gloves and
head cap have the highest and lowest FCI with 4.40 and
1.00 respectively. Infectious waste is the major
generated waste in the study with MWI of 4.46 and
offensive odour with highest WEI of 3.77 while good
accessibility has the highest SFI of 4.53. A major
preventive measure as perceived the respondents is
enforcement of regulation with WPI of 4.16 while
workers’ welfare has the highest HSI of 3.57.For proper
medical waste management practice, therefore, there
should be an incentive package for health workers and
adequate fund should be provided to carry out this
proper management from on-site to off-site disposal.
Time-to-time training for waste handlers in order to
keep them abreast of the recent risk involved or update
about medical waste and waste management policy
should be re-assessed and reviewed where necessary so
as to keep it up-to date.
Keywords : Health Regulations, Healthcare Institutions, Health Workers, Medical Waste Index, Waste Facilities.