Solid medical waste: a cross sectional study of household disposal practices and reported harm in Southern Ghana

BMC Public Health
Emilia Asuquo UdofiaJulius Fobil

Abstract

Solid medical waste (SMW) in households is perceived to pose minimal risks to the public compared to SMW generated from healthcare facilities. While waste from healthcare facilities is subject to recommended safety measures to minimize risks to human health and the environment, similar waste in households is often untreated and co-mingled with household waste which ends up in landfills and open dumps in many African countries. In Ghana, the management of this potentially hazardous waste stream at household and community level has not been widely reported. The objective of this study was to investigate household disposal practices and harm resulting from SMW generated in households and the community. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 600 households was undertaken in Ga South Municipal Assembly in Accra, Ghana from mid-April to June, 2014. Factors investigated included socio-demographic characteristics, medication related practices, the belief that one is at risk of diseases associated with SMW, SMW disposal practices and reported harm associated with SMW at home and in the community. Eighty percent and 89% of respondents discarded unwanted medicines and sharps in household refuse bins respectively. A corresponding 23% an...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 14, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Ummu Atiyyah HasanLau Yi Vun
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May 12, 2019·Environmental Management·Justyna RogowskaLidia Wolska
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Software Mentioned

Statistical Package for Social Sciences ( SPSS )

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