Knowledge, Risk Perception, Protective Practices and Pattern of Accidental Exposures to Hazards of Healthcare Wastes among Workers in Primary Healthcare Centers in Sokoto, Nigeria

Introduction: Healthcare waste (HCW) includes all the waste generated within health-care facilities, research centers and laboratories related to medical procedures; it carries high risk for infection and injury than any other type of waste. Inadequate and inappropriate handling of health-care waste may have serious public health consequences and a significant impact on the environment. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, risk perception, protective practices and pattern of accidental exposure to hazards of health care waste among health care workers in Primary Healthcare Centers in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 248 subjects. Informed consent was obtained and information was collected using a semi-structured, interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35.0 ± 9.1.years. Majority of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge of hazardous HCW (95.2%), on the job training was poor (45.6%), and knowledge of color coded waste bins was suboptimal (ranging from 29.4% to 69.6%). Majority of the respondents (89.1%) also perceived themselves to be at risk of the hazards of improperly managed HCW. Segregation of HCW into appropriate color coded waste bins was poor among the respondents (19.4%), but a large proportion of them (83.9%) dispose sharps in safety boxes. The prevalence of accident/injury while handling HCW among the respondents was 16.5% with majority (82.9%) having needle stick injury.

Conclusion: Although, majority of the respondents had good knowledge of hazardous healthcare waste, on the job training and compliance with safe HCW disposal practices were poor; and a substantial proportion of respondents experienced accident/injury while handling HCW. It is therefore recommended that the management of health facilities should train their workers on safe HCW collection, storage and disposal, and also monitor them for compliance periodically.