| dc.description.abstract | Health care activities are a means of protecting and restoring health, curing patients and saving
lives. In doing so, waste is generated potentially creating risks to human health and the environment
if mismanaged. The study was intended to assess the status of Health Care Waste Management
practices at the selected medical institutions in Kampala District. The objectives were (1) To
determine the composition, and quantities of Health Care Waste generated by selected health
institutions in Kampala district (2) To identify the current Health Care Waste Management
practices in Kampala district health facilities (3) To identify the limitations for sustainable Health
Care Waste Management in selected medical facilities in Kampala district. A cross-sectional study
was conducted at 3 selected health facilities with 80 participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS
software version 26. Results revealed that Naguru General Hospital, generated the highest-quantity
of waste 7470.3kg per month, a proportion of 47%, followed by Kawaala at 28 percent, least being
Kisenyi at 25%. Non-hazardous waste was comprised of paper at 53.56% and plastics at 35.20
percent. In-patient and Maternity departments mostly used segregation as waste management
practices at 34.4 percent and 28.3 percent respectively. Theatre department used mostly source
reduction of waste, at 25 percent whereas, Dental department employed mostly monitoring of
medical goods and stock management both at 28.6 percent, Physiotherapy used majorly source
reduction and stock management both at 50 percent respectively as waste management strategies.
Sustainable Health Care Waste Management was mostly constrained by insufficient funding and
inadequate waste bins/containers/liners/polythene bags both at 24.3 percent respectively, followed
by lack of awareness on medical waste management by 21.3%, inadequate training in proper waste
management contributed 20.6 percent, whereas lack of top management support, and commitment
were the least limiting factor for Sustainable Health Waste Management with 9.5 percent. In
conclusion, Health Care Waste Management, remains below national and international standards
in all surveyed health facilities in Kampala district. | en_US |
