Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Hospital Waste Management among Health Care Professionals of Rapti Academy of Health Sciences, Ghorahi, Dang, Nepal.
Authors:   Hospital Director, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences, Ghorahi, Dang, Nepal, Panthi Janardan , Pokhrel Subrata ,   Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences, Ghorahi, Dang, Nepal, Regmi Sulav ,   Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences, Ghorahi, Dang, Nepal
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Hospital wastes is defined as the wastes which are produced or extracted as an outcome of the
procedures like diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals or research activities or in the
production of biologicals. The wastes which are generated from health care institutions subsequently has the
maximum probability of infection as well as risks in comparison to any types of waste produced. Inadequate and
appropriate knowledge seems to be the major reason behind haphazard management of hospital wastes which directly
imposes deleterious effects on environment.
The crucial issues in response to mismanagement of hospital waste includes absence of proper waste management,
lack of awareness about health problems, insufficient financial and human resources. Management of biomedical
wastes under good scale specially, at hospitals setting is directly proportional to dedicated waste management teams,
good administration, careful planning, sound organization, underpinning legislation, adequate financing and full
participation by trained staff. Biomedical wastes are to be managed accordingly because mishandling of these wastes
invites serious health effect. Spread of diseases like Hepatitis-B, C and HIV/AIDS are the major effects seen
associated with biomedical wastes.
Although health care professionals are aware about the proper consequences of improper disposal of biomedical
wastes, the necessary precautions are not yet being practiced properly. Likewise, there is no data available by the
researcher regarding hospital waste management that were conducted in the hospital of Lumbani Province.
Results: Out of 188 participated, shows that 49.46% of the respondents were of age 20-29 years and 65.96% were
female. Most of the respondents have completed their diploma degree 38.29. Likewise, in term of profession,
majorities of professionals i.e. 57.98% were nurses while paramedics was 23.47 and only 19.15% were doctors.
Regarding working hours per day, maximum work around 5-10 hours a day i.e. 97.87 and only nearly half of the
respondents i.e. 42.55% has work experience of 1-5 years and only 12.23% of respondents received tanning of
hospital waste management. Most of the respondents 57.98% had good knowledge and 42.02% had poor knowledge
regarding hospital waste management. Likewise, 61.70% of the respondents had favorable attitude and only 38.30%
of the respondents had unfavorable attitude. Similarly, 59.04% had good practices and only less than half 40.96% had
poor practices. Association between level of knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics, only the respondent’s
sex (p=0.266) and respondent’s qualification (p=0.102) was highly significant. It shows same sex (p=0.630) and
qualification (p=0.102) is highly significant with association of level of attitude and demographic characteristics. But
there is no any association between level of practices and demographic characteristics.
Conclusion: The finding of this present study concluded that majority of the respondent were in 20 to 29 years of i.e
49.46% where female was high than male 65.96%. Most of the respondents are diploma 38.29% and only 17.1% were
bachelor pass. Nurses were in the highest proportional 57.98 followed by paramedic and doctors respectively 25.47%,
19.15%.About level of knowledge more than half 5798% have good knowledge followed by 61.70% respondents had
favorable attitude and 59.04% had good practices regarding hospital waste management. Association between level of
knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics, only the respondent’s sex (p=0.266) and respondent’s qualification
(p=0.102) was highly significant. It shows same sex (p=0.630) and qualification (p=0.102) is highly significant with
association of level of attitude and demographic characteristics. But there is no any association between level of
practices and demographic characteristics.
Keywords: KAP, HWM, HCP, RAHS