Biomedical waste disposal systems of health facilities in Ethiopia

Authors

  • Amenu, Kassahun Health System Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Bekele, Abebe Health System Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Defar, Atkure Health System Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Derso, Sisay Environmental Health Research Team, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Gelibo, Terefe Health System Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Getachew, Theodros Health System Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Taye, Girum Health System Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Teklie, Habtamu Health System Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abstract:

Background: Biomedical waste generated from health and health-related activities can be grouped as general waste and hazardous waste. This remains true if and only if there is proper on-site handling, such as the segregation and separation of waste based on the type and nature of the source. Methods: A stratified random sampling design was used to provide representative results for Ethiopia, for various types of facility and management authorities, and for each of the 11 regions. Totally, 1327 health facilities were assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) inventory tools. Results: Nationally, medical waste in 32.6% of the studied health facilities was stored in covered containers, and in about 27% of them it was stored in another protected environment. About 40% of health facilities stored their medical waste in unprotected areas. Twenty-eight (2.6%) and 420 (39.3%) health facilities used 2-chamber industrial incinerators and 1-chamber drum incinerators, respectively. About 58% of health facilities used unsafe waste treatment methods. The proportion of using safe medical waste disposal method was high in referral hospitals (87.9%). This shows the utilization of safe medical waste disposal methods is in decreasing order from higher to lower levels of organization in health facilities. Conclusion: The present study showed a preliminary finding on the waste disposal systems of health facilities at the national level. Dumping biomedical waste outside the health facility is common, and access to common waste facilities is limited. Therefore, a holistic approach to safe medical waste management practices, including the collection process (handling, sorting, and segregation), storage, treatment and final disposal is crucial in all types of health facilities, regardless of the level of organization, ownership, or geographic distribution.

Upgrade to premium to download articles

Sign up to access the full text

Already have an account?login

similar resources

Disposal of Radioactive Waste

Perhaps the most important single problem arising from the increasing use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes is how to dispose of the growing amounts of radioactive waste. Many of its complex aspects were discussed at the scientific conference on the disposal of radioactive waste held by IAEA in Monaco from 16 to 21 November 1959. The conference was organized jointly with UNESCO, with the c...

full text

Respiratory Health in Waste Collection and Disposal Workers

Waste management, namely, collection, transport, sorting and processing, and disposal, is an issue of social concern owing to its environmental impact and effects on public health. In fact, waste management activities are carried out according to procedures that can have various negative effects on the environment and, potentially, on human health. The aim of our study was to assess the potenti...

full text

Technical Considerations in the Design of near Surface Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste

FOREWORD The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has, since its inception, recognized the importance of radioactive waste management. Low and intermediate level radioactive wastes are produced in almost all countries and their safe management is of great importance. Near surface disposal of the wastes is an option being practised or planned in many countries. There is a growing need in th...

full text

Cements in Radioactive Waste Disposal

The use of cement and concrete to immobilise radioactive waste is complicated by the wideranging nature of inorganic cementing agents available as well as the range of service environments in which cement is used and the different functions expected of cement. For example, Portland cement based concretes are widely used as structural materials for construction of vaults and tunnels. These const...

full text

Contract "Waste Disposal

We are a privately held corporation that is engaged in the business of contract reclamation of chemicals for reuse and disposal of chemicals where reclamation is not economically feasible. The idea of this business was conceived several years ago with the serious planning and financing stages developing about four years ago. Then subsequent plant site development resulted in the beginning of op...

full text

Developments in Nuclear Waste Disposal

full text

My Resources

Save resource for easier access later

Save to my library Already added to my library

{@ msg_add @}


Journal title

volume 5  issue None

pages  29- 37

publication date 2018-01

{@ msg @}

By following a journal you will be notified via email when a new issue of this journal is published.

Keywords

No Keywords

Hosted on Doprax cloud platform doprax.com

copyright © 2015-2023