Abstract:
Background: In developing countries, like Ethiopia, the quantity of healthcare waste has sharply
risen in recent years as a result of rapid population growth and thus increasing demand for
healthcare services. Despite of many researches has been conducted on different health facilities
and area the problem of healthcare solid waste management is not solved yet; at best the available
ones lack details and comprehensiveness. Previous studies focused on healthcare waste
management at facility level without identifying the role of each actor on healthcare waste
management practices such as health care workers. Thus, a comprehensive research is required for
the development of effective healthcare waste management system.
Objectives: To assess Healthcare waste generation rate, management practices and associated
factors among healthcare workers in public hospitals of Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia January 1
to February 1/2018.
Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 health care workers in
Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia. Essential data for this study was collected by using observational
checklist and structured Questionnaire. The descriptive analysis of data was indicated using
numerical summary measures and the data will be presented using frequency tables, figures and
graphs. Data were analysed by SPSS version 20. To measure the strength of association between
dependent and independent variables, Crude and Adjusted Odd Ratios with 95% Confidence
interval were calculated. Finally, those variables which showed p-value < 0.05 were considered
as statistically significance.
Result: 28.8% of the respondents had a health care waste management practices. Training on
health care waste [AOR=1.6,95%CI (1.009,2.753)] and working experience [AOR=0.364,95%CI
(0.164,0.808)] were significantly associated with management practice of health care
professionals. The highest generation rate was found in Jegula hospital (0.17kg/pt./day) and from
the total waste 29% was hazardous. Practice of waste segregation at point source and use of
personal protective equipment is unsatisfactory. Incinerators used are not environmentally
friendly.
Conclusion: This result revealed that majority of health care workers did not apply the
recommended healthcare waste management practice. Thus, regular training on healthcare waste
management system must enhanced in order to improve the current management practices
