Department of Biology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, P.O Box 139, 0204, Pretoria, South Africa.
Afr Health Sci. 2020 Mar;20(1):453-468. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v20i1.52.
Adequate knowledge on hazards of healthcare waste and proper handling methods can result in its safe disposal and protection of workers and communities. The study assessed perceptions of healthcare workers on the adherence and risks associated with the practices of healthcare waste management.
A total of 126 questionnaires were administered in selected wards at an academic hospital to establish training and knowledge on legislations regarding healthcare waste and health hazards associated with such waste.
Sixty nine percent (69.0%) of participants had received training on healthcare waste handling. The highest number of cleaning staff (85.7%) received training from work while 34.8% of the doctors also received training from work. Only 44.1% of the nurses had knowledge about policies on healthcare waste. The majority of the participants (82.0%) had knowledge on the risks associated with handling of healthcare waste. However, only 20.0% of the participants re-capped needles after use and of these 43.5% were doctors. Most of the nurses (64.0%) had been exposed to needle pricks.
Even though 82.0% of the participants believed there were enough management practices enforced with regards to the healthcare waste, it was recommended that there should be more education on the handling of healthcare waste.
充分了解医疗废物的危害和正确的处理方法，可以确保其安全处置，并保护工作人员和社区的安全。本研究评估了医护人员对医疗废物管理实践的遵守情况和相关风险的认知。
在一家学术医院的选定病房共发放了 126 份问卷，以了解医护人员在医疗废物法规和与医疗废物相关的健康危害方面的培训和知识情况。
69.0%的参与者接受过医疗废物处理培训。接受培训的清洁人员最多（85.7%）是通过工作获得的，而 34.8%的医生也是通过工作获得的培训。只有 44.1%的护士了解有关医疗废物的政策。大多数参与者（82.0%）了解与处理医疗废物相关的风险。但是，只有 20.0%的参与者在使用后重新套上针头，其中 43.5%是医生。大多数护士（64.0%）都曾被针刺伤过。
尽管 82.0%的参与者认为已经有足够的管理实践来处理医疗废物，但仍建议加强对医疗废物处理的教育。
