Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Biomedical Waste Management among Staff of a Secondary Care Hospital in Narowal

Aim: To identify the existing practices of Hospital Waste Disposal, to assessment of the knowledge of hospital staff regarding the Hospital Waste Management Practices and to Identify factors responsible for non compliance to good Hospital Waste Management Practices. Study design: Cross Sectional Descriptive. Place and duration of study: D.H.Q Hospital Narowal from August 2011 to October 2011. Methods: This study was conducted on 83 staff members of a secondary care hospital in Narowal. The study population was divided into four strata and these strata were doctors, Paramedical staff including nurses, dispensers, Laboratory technicians and microbiologists, sanitary workers and administrative authorities. Non probability sampling method was used. Results: Response rate was 83%, doctors (16.8%), paramedical staff (68.6%), sanitary workers (8.6%) and management staff (6%) were the study participants. Although there was overall good level of awareness about the health care waste and its management but the existing scenario regarding waste segregation, storage and disposal was totally different. Knowledge of Paramedical staff was higher than that of doctors and others. Among the management 80% were agreed that D.H.Q hospital has waste management policy and follow a plan according to this policy. Although some good practices such as use of gloves, masks, aprons, boots and separate containers during waste segregation and disposal were seen. Syringe cutters were observed in only few wards of the hospital. Conclusion: Hospital waste management practices should not be neglected.