Assessment of Compliance with Medical Waste Management Practice in Selected Hospitals in Urban Bauchi, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assesses compliance with medical waste management practice in hospitals across urban Bauchi. Ten hospitals were randomly selected in each  ward, representing the ten administrative wards of urban Bauchi, in which 148 set of questionnaires were administered among the waste handlers in the  selected hospitals. In addition, the heads of units in each of the selected hospitals were interviewed. The results were compared with standard guidelines  stipulated by the World Health Organization (WHO). It was revealed that the main treatment and disposal method in 50% of the hospitals were  incineration and deep burial which were mostly in compliance with the stipulated guidelines. In the remaining 50% of the hospitals, the dominant  treatment and disposal methods used were general collection of the waste, open dumping and burning. This is of significant concern because open  dumping and open burning are not sustainable practices. Therefore, the study recommends that waste handling manual be developed and provided to  all waste handlers to guide on handling medical waste properly.