Assessment of Health Care Waste Management Practices among Healthcare Workers in Doma LGC, Nassarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed healthcare waste management practices among healthcare workers in Doma Local Government Area, Nassarawa State, Nigeria, examining the methods, challenges, and impacts of waste handling in healthcare facilities. Employing a cross-sectional design, the study surveyed healthcare workers using a semi-structured questionnaire to capture data on demographic characteristics, waste generation types, disposal methods, training, and formal waste management policies. Findings reveal that most respondents are well educated, with 89.36% holding tertiary qualifications, and most have substantial work experience, predominantly between five and seven years. Infectious waste emerged as the most commonly generated category (50.7%), followed by non-infectious (25.77%) and hazardous waste (14.57%). Although segregation and disposal (51.82%) are the primary methods, many facilities still rely on burning and burying (27.73%) practices that raise environmental concerns. Concern worthy, while 90.76% of healthcare workers reported receiving training on proper waste management, only 10.92% confirmed the existence of formal policies or guidelines, with 60.78% indicating their absence. This policy gap, coupled with limited government support, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient resources, compromises effective waste management and increases public health risks. Negative impacts include environmental degradation, heightened risk of disease outbreaks, and injuries among healthcare workers. The study concludes that despite high levels of individual training and experience, systemic shortcomings, particularly the lack of standardised policies and infrastructural support, hamper optimal waste management. It recommends that policymakers prioritise developing and enforcing comprehensive waste management policies, improving resource allocation, and investing in modern disposal technologies to safeguard public health and the environment.