Assessment of knowledge and practice of biomedical waste management among health care personnel in a rural tertiary care hospital of Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Health care generates profuse amount of toxic biomedical wastes, which if not disposed appropriately turns out to be a potential health hazard. Biomedical waste management and handling rules thus are formulated, amended and universally implemented with health staffs playing a pivotal role in its success. This rural tertiary care hospital has wide catchment area, huge patient influx and face challenges unique to its remote settings. Objectives and Methods : The descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in North Bengal Medical College after obtaining ethical clearance among health care professionals of selected wards for one month to determine existing biomedical waste management practices and discern causes for any non-compliance to standard guidelines. Relevant tools and techniques were used and 53 participants pertaining to study criteria could be finally studied. Data was collected and analyzed accordingly. Results: Infrastructural support was inadequate. Knowledge and practice assessed under domains of biomedical waste segregation, use of designated equipment, waste storage before disposal, related trainings and workshops revealed discrepancies. Group D staffs had no training. Health care personnel unanimously agreed to importance of proper biomedical waste management but cited increased workload, inadequate administrative support and trainings as primary reasons for non-adherence. Conclusion: Biomedical waste management is grossly inadequate and gaps exist in knowledge and practice of concerned health care personnel. Addressing the discerned reasons is mandatory.