Journal of Geography and Earth Sciences

Assessment of Orthodox Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Katsina Metropolis, Nigeria
Samaila, Alhassan Sati, Sule, Haruna Bibot1and Sunday, Muhammed Ngbede

Abstract
The management and treatment of healthcare wastes are of great concern due to their potential hazard to human health and the environment. The study assessed orthodox healthcare waste management practices among healthcare facilities in Katsina metropolis. A cross-sectional descriptive approach was employed to assess healthcare waste management practices of public and private healthcare facilities for four months. A total of 120 healthcare workers from 10 selected healthcare facilities were included in the study using simple random sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire and observational checklist were used to collect data. Results indicated that all kinds of healthcare wastes are generated and sharps represent 45% of the total waste volume. Healthcare wastes were disposed of using safety boxes, pit burial, open burning, pit burning, among others. Segregation of waste was not practised, few facilities used colour coded containers, none had a waste management plan, and funding was a major challenge to effective waste management. Personnel training, supervision of healthcare waste management, and funding by the relevant government agency are recommended. Waste management unit should be established in all health facilities in order to improve the problem of poor management of healthcare wastes in Katsina metropolis and Nigeria in general.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jges.v8n1a1