Biomedical Waste Management: A Study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Aim & Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of biomedical waste management (BMWM) among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary care hospital.
Background/Introduction: Improperly managed biomedical waste can contaminate the hospital environment and increase the risk of infection transmission; HCWs, who are constantly exposed to it, are at particular risk.
Material & Methods: 594 HCWs (teachers, postgraduates, interns, staff nurses, laboratory technicians, and housekeeping staff) participated in a cross-sectional study after Institutional Ethics Committee clearance. A structured, pre-tested questionnaire covering knowledge, attitude and practice domains was administered after informed consent. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23; cadre-wise comparisons were examined using the chi-square test of independence (p<0.05)
Results: Of 594 HCWs, 308 (51.8%) were male. KAP scores were good across all cadres but consistently lower among housekeeping staff and technicians. This cadre-wise gap was statistically significant for 7 of 10 items assessed (p<0.05); 3 items showed no significant cadre difference.
Conclusion: KAP regarding BMWM were satisfactory overall, with a statistically significant gap concentrated in housekeeping staff and technicians for most items. Regular, vernacular-language training targeted at these cadres is recommended.