Abstract:
WHO defined the term medical wastes (MW) as; wastes generated from all types
of healthcare facilities and it is considered as the second dangerous waste in the World that needs
to be properly disposed by trained Medical waste handlers. Medical waste management is still a
major concern in the world; especially in developing countries including Ethiopia, and the
problem of Public Healthcare Facilities in selected study area “East Harerghe Zone” can be the
best example for the statement. Medical waste handlers have significant role in the management
of medical wastes and they need to have adequate knowledge, attitude, and practices.
The statement of problem;no study evidence for the level of knowledge, attitude & practice of
medical waste handlers towards medical waste management and contributing factors.
Objective; To Asses Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Medical Waste Handlers towards
Health facility Waste management, andassociated factories in East Harerghe Zone public Health
Facility ; Eastern Ethiopia from November - 15 – 2020 to January -30 - 2021.
Methodology; Healthcare facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in EastHarerghe Zone.
The study population was medical waste handlers working in Public healthcare facilities found in
East Harerghe zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Data was collected by using self-administered
questionnaires.TheSample size was 222 and three stages sampling procedure and sampling
technique has been used. Data has been analyzed by using, the SPSS - version 24, and the
associated factors by using bivariate and multivariate with 5% the statistical significance.
Result; A total of 196 cleaners have participated; which gives 88% response rate. 99 % were
females, and 46.6% had service year (1-5). Only 48.9% participants were found to have adequate
knowledge, 61.2% of them were found to have, favorable attitude and 53.6% of participants were
found to have, adequate practice. Only Training had been showed statistically significant
association with knowledge, Attitude and practice outcome variables.In addition service year,
Knowledge & Attitude were showed statistically significant association with practice outcome.
Conclusion: the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice level of Medical waste handlers ware
concluded as at lower level & need of training to improve their knowledge, attitude and practice.
Only training was concluded as factor of all the three dependent variable outcomes.
Recommendations:All Public Healthcare facilities, Districts and East Harerghe zonal health
offices should facilitate on job training to improve Knowledge, Attitude and practice
