Hospital Solid Waste Management Practices In Eastern Region Of Ghana

ABSTRACT

The study examined hospital solid waste management practices the Eastern

Region of Ghana. A total of 320 hospital staff from six selected hospitals were

randomly selected for the study with 279 returned responses for the

questionnaire used. Interviews were conducted among 15 purposively selected

staff from the six selected hospitals, the private waste collecting company, the

Municipal Assembly and the Environmental Protection Agency. SPSS Version

20 was used to analysed questionnaires. Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square and

Spearman correlation were used to test for difference and relationships. The

results showed that hospitals do not keep records on the quantity of waste

generated. Waste separation practices were poor at all the hospitals except at

Koforidua laboratory unit where proper separation was done. The main waste

treatment methods used by the hospitals were incineration and bio-digestion.

Disposal methods were dumping at open and controlled dumpsites, open

burning and burying. Three of the hospitals engaged a private waste collection

company for services while the other three did not. There was no specific

policy framework at each hospital and two hospitals did not have copies of the

national policy. Linkages between the hospitals and other stakeholders were

weak. There were no statistical difference between the awareness of different

categories of staff about health hazards associated with hospital solid waste (p

= .463), as well as attitudes toward waste (p = .542). Occupational health and

safety practiced by hospital staff was the use of personal protective equipment.

Solid waste management practices at the hospitals were below standard.

Hospitals should organise training on waste segregation, provide resources and

collaborate with stakeholders to ensure good waste management practices.