Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice

Assessment of Healthcare Waste Management Across Different Categories of Health Facilities in the Limbe Health District

Djam Chefor Alain *

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

Charles Kouanfack

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon and International Research Laboratory IRD/IMPM/CREMER, Cameroon.

Brenda Motangu

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

Carine Nkweti

University of Buea, Cameroon.

Deo-Gratias Ngam

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

Stella Ayuk

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

Bernadette Bikotok

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

Solomon Ifang

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

Manuella Djienang

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Context/Justification: In Cameroon, healthcare waste management (HCWM) is ineffective as waste is seldom segregated, serving as a threat to human health, the public and the environment. An assessment carried out by WHO/UNICEF in 2015 revealed that 58% of health facilities sampled in 24 different countries had adequate waste management system.

Objective: To evaluate healthcare waste management in fifteen selected health facilities of 4 different categories in the Limbe health district.

Methodology: We carried out a health facility based cross sectional study with descriptive and analytic components in 15 health facilities in the Limbe health district from November 2022 to July 2023. Data was collected for a period of 83 days, from March to May 2023 from all healthcare workers; whose work led to the generation of healthcare waste, who were involved in HCWM and who accepted to participate in our study. The data was collected using a questionnaire, a health facility based observational checklist and also through interviews.

Results: Out of the 341 healthcare workers who participated in our study, 327 were retained giving a response rate of 95.9%, Of which; 129(39.4%), 79(24.2%), 38(11.6%), 81(24.8%) were from 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th categories respectively. The overall knowledge level revealed 49(15.0%) of study participants had good knowledge level and overall practice revealed 7(46.7%) health facilities practiced safe HCWM. The most reported problems faced with HCWM implementation was non-respect of HCWM guidelines 136(41.6%). Statistical significant associations were shown between education level (p = 0.002), training on HCWM (p = 0.001) and knowledge on HCWM. Marginal statistical significant associations were found between health facility category and HCWM practice.

Conclusion: From the gaps observed in our study, we noticed that an appreciable percentage (50.2%) of healthcare workers knew what healthcare waste management was but didn’t practice appropriate HCWM which could have been because of; Ignorance due to their level of education, Lack/inadequate training on HCWM, Non-respect of HCWM guidelines. We can therefore conclude that healthcare waste management practice did not meet norms and does not depend on the health facility category.

Keywords: Healthcare waste, healthcare waste management, healthcare workers, Cameroon

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