Impacts of hospital waste management on the health and environment of Ogbomoso area, Oyo state

Abstract

Abstract Wastes, especially, hospital wastes have been known to have serious implication on the health and environment where they are not properly managed. Hence, this study assessed waste management practices in different hospitals (Public Primary Health Centre, Private and Referral Hospitals) as they affects health and environment. Secondary statistical data were obtained from different hospital waste disposal locations. Waste generation, segregation, storage, collection, transportation and disposal level were investigated. Questionnaires were used as research tools. The questionnaire was designed to inquire of hospital information like year of establishment, area of specialization; personnel information like personnel characteristics; age, educational qualification; working experience; type of waste available in the hospital; waste management strategy/handling methods; record of waste generation and methods of disposal. Waste handling method and treatment before disposal recorded low value of 11%, 0% and 11% colour coding in referral hospital, private and public primary health centre respectively. Very little record of waste in most of the hospital investigated. Training of staff on waste handling and disposal were valued at 12 %, 33% and 13% in Referral, Private and Public health centre respectively. Almost all the hospital investigated employed self disposal with no reliance on government. No appreciable recycling; Referral (2%), Private (11%), and public primary health centre (7%). The results from this research indicated that there is need for strict compliance to clearly stipulated rules that apply to generation, collection, receive, storage, transport, treatment, disposal, and handling of medical waste. There is observed lapses in medical waste disposal management which call for urgent attention.