Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health-Care Waste Management and Associated Health Risks in the Two Teaching and Referral Hospitals in Kenya
View/ Open
Date
2012-12Author
Njagi, A Nkonge
Oloo, A Mayabi
Kithinji, J
Kithinji, J Magambo
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Hazardous health-care waste poses a great danger to public health and the environment if it is not properly managed. There is need for health-care workers involved in its management to understand the integral link between human health and environmental health. This study was done to identify gaps in knowledge, attitude and practice among the healthcare workers involved in its management hence endangering public health and polluting the environment. A self administered questionnaire was used in both Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret to clinicians, nurses, laboratory technologists and hospital attendants to identify the gaps with a focus on their knowledge, attitude and practice. It was found that health and safety in health-care waste management, was not included in most of the curricula for training the three healthcare professionals. Most of them acquired this through on-job training from seminars and informally through organized talks at work-places. The hospital attendants had also an opportunity to acquire the knowledge through organized training at work places. The training improved the workers’ compliance to hepatitis B vaccinations and use of personal protective equipment when handling health-care waste. There was also reduction on injuries from health-care waste. This study therefore concludes that it is necessary for healthcare workers training curricula to include health and safety issues while managing hazardous health-care waste as well as establishes the need for healthcare institutions to conduct continuing education on health and safety in the management of health-care waste.
Citation
Journal of Community Health December 2012, Volume 37, Issue 6, pp 1172-1177Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10378]
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Reforming Health Care in Kenya: Prospects for Health - In - All - Policies Approach” World Health Organization and Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Kenya ,
Mwabu, Germano (University of NairobiDepartment of Economics, 2011) -
Factors associated with health seeking behavior in a two way health delivery system (modern publicly sponsored health services and traditional African health services), among the Banyala of Kakamega district
Mukolwe, John L (1989)This study is about factors associated with health seeking behavior in a two way health delivery system (modern publicly sponsored health services and traditional African medicine), among the Banyala of Kakamega district. ... -
Analysis of the Health Impact of Health Expenditures on Key Health Indicators in Kenya
Odhiambo, M; Kiriti-Nganga, T (University of NairobiDepartment of Economics, 2008)