Knowledge, Attitude & Practices of Biomedical Waste Management among Teaching staff in Tertiary care centre in Bihar

Abstract

Background: Biomedical waste from hospitals become one of the most serious health hazard in many countries. The waste produced during the course of conducting any types of health care activities will carries a higher potential  risk for infection and injury than any other type of waste produced. The objectives of this study are to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among the teaching staff of a medical college regarding biomedical waste management. Material & Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional study.  this study was  conducted among the teaching staff of  state run Government Medical college  regarding biomedical waste management.. The data collection was done by interview technique using a pretested, structured questionnaire. Results: Awareness about the number of categories of segregation of biomedical waste was found in 99% of the respondents. However 94% participants among them knew correctly the colour code of segregation but percentage details of these categories varied from 46% to 92%. Percentage of  staff who  are  performing regularly actual practice of biomedical waste management varied from 55% to 79%.  It was also noticed that only 65 (59.09%) participants have undergone training in biomedical waste management during their career. Conclusion: It was concluded from this study that the teaching staff had sufficient knowledge about basic questions like number of categories of BMW segregation; however, details of these categories were known to a only to few people. It was also noticed that the lesser experience staff had a better knowledge & understanding of Biomedical waste management compared to the more experienced staff. All The teaching staff  working here had positive attitude towards biomedical waste management.

Keywords: BMW segregation, biomedical waste.