ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHCARE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN HOSPITALS OF SOUTH LEBANON

Abstract

Healthcare wastes (HCW) are produced in any healthcare setting during diagnosis, medical care, operation or injection process or during research studies. The management of such wastes is becoming a great issue since they pose many health risks and environmental damage. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the level of healthcare waste management in hospitals of South Lebanon. A cross sectional study was conducted in five hospitals located in South Lebanon (A, B, C, D and E). The Individualized Rapid Assessment Tool (I-RAT) developed in 2009 as part of the UNDP GEF Global Project on Healthcare Waste, was the instrument used for data collection. A part of the IRAT-HCWM questionnaire was completed through on site observation and the other part of the questionnaire was filled by the nurses, nurse managers, quality and environmental managers and infection control managers in different wards of the hospitals. In general, the five evaluated hospitals showed a good management of healthcare wastes. However, there are still unsatisfactory practices in these hospitals regarding policies, regulations, procedures, safety issues and awareness. Thus, future interventions are required in order to improve the healthcare waste management practices in hospitals of South Lebanon.