Situation analysis of the biomedical waste management in primary health care units of Ismailia district, Egypt

Abstract

Introduction: Biomedical waste management has emerged as an issue of major concern. Advances in medical facilities and the introduction of more sophisticated instruments have increased the waste generation worldwide. Aim: This study aimed to assess the current biomedical waste management process. Methods: cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at the fifteen primary health care units (PHC) units affiliated to Ismailia health district. Data were collected using the World Health Organization Individualized Rapid Assessment Tool (WHO-IRAT) which takes into account biomedical waste management organizational structure, policy and planning, training, occupational health and safety, monitoring, periodic evaluation and corrective action, financing, segregation, waste Generation, collection, handling, labeling, posters or signage, transportation, storage, treatment and waste disposal. Results: The aggregate score percentage per urban PHC unit when rated using the I-RAT ranged from as low as 44.6% to 55% with a total average score percentages 51% for urban PHC unit and as low as 39.9%to 52.4% and a total average 47% score percentages for rural PHC unit. The wastes are properly segregated at the source according to different categories in 71% of urban and 62.5% in rural PHC units. The storage area meets the proper requirements according to World Health Organization standards in 86% of urban and 50%rural PHC units. Conclusions: The baseline assessment using the individualized rapid assessment tool provides information that can be used to compare and rank PHC units for prioritizing interventions and to identify possible areas for improvement. Introduction Biomedical waste is any unwanted materials produced during diagnosis, treatment, operation, immunization or in research activities including production of biological. Day to day activities in health institutions generate a lot of waste which is biological in nature and are probable sources of infection transmission, especially hepatitis B and C, human immune deficiency virus, and tetanus [1]. Biomedical waste management (BMWM) includes all activities involved in waste generation, segregation, transportation, storage, treatment and final disposal [2]. According to the WHO 80% of clinical wastes are non-hazardous comparable to domestic waste, 15% are infectious and the remaining 5% is made-up of sharps (1%), toxic chemicals and pharmaceuticals (3%) and genotoxic and radioactive waste (1%) [3]. BMWM practices vary greatly from country to country, according to various factors such as socioeconomic conditions, regulation, Level of education, available resources, treatment technologies, and the capacity to monitor and best manage inadequate practices [4]. Assessment studies on BMWM in some developing countries have detected that segregation; handling and storage are not appropriately conducted. Practices for waste minimization are poor; hazardous and common waste are mixed together and disposed in open dumps or landfills; and waste incinerators are not equipped with an emission control apparatus [5]. At the global level, 16-84% of the hospitals did not stick to norms. This has been attributed to lack of awareness, inadequate resources, and poor disposal mechanisms.