Healthcare waste segregation practices in low level health care facilities and associated factors: A case of Ilemela District Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction: Management of hazardous healthcare wastes such as sharps is still a critical problem in Tanzania. The key to effective management of healthcare wastes (HCW) is the segregation of waste streams at generation point. Objectives: Assessing the current health care waste management status in terms of type of wastes generated in various units with regard to segregation practices, assessing the health-worker related factors affecting healthcare waste segregation practices as well as to assess the organizational related factors affecting healthcare waste segregation practices in Low Level Healthcare Facilities in Ilemela district. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to explore the information on HCW segregation, administered with structured questionnaire and observational checklist to 100 healthcare personnel in 100 facilities in Ilemela district, Mwanza. Results: The study revealed that, about 58% of respondents had high knowledge concerning healthcare waste segregation, 32% knew the main categories of healthcare waste and their respective color coded containers, 14% of HCFs had SOPs on healthcare waste management while 56% of them had sufficient standard color coded containers. Furthermore, knowledge on healthcare waste type and containers, following color coding system, having a specific person responsible for HCWM and availability of management plan were significantly associated with healthcare waste segregation practices. Moreover, there was statistical significant relationship between having sufficient number of standard bins and correct practices of healthcare waste segregation with the P-value of 0.007. Conclusions: This study concluded that, in most of the surveyed LLHFs the process of healthcare waste segregation and management is generally poor on which reinforcement or implementation of the existing Healthcare waste management guidelines in the district should be improved.