Factors Associated with Non-Compliance to Medical Waste Management Practices among Health Workers at Kenyatta National Hospital - Nairobi City County

Abstract

The WHO emphasizes measures to manage medical waste mainstream in health. Africa slow pace on development has documented evidence on health impacts associated with medical waste, Kenya, is not an exceptional since all the 47 counties are struggling to manage the medical waste.The objective was to determine medical waste management practices among health workers in KNH. A cross-sectional study design was used, stratified proportionate sampling was used to select desired sample size297 respondents. Self-administered questionnaire used for data collection and analysis done using R 3.6.0 statistical program.52% were Female, 53% were nurses, 38% of the respondents had worked for a period between 5 and 10 years, (67.3%) used color codes correctly when segregating waste, 89.6% maintained a routine schedule in medical waste collection,60% of the respondents were not vaccinated, (89%)highlighted being issued with PPE,(74%) experienced an injury while handling medical wast. Statistical associations between years of working and segregation of medical waste generated, X2(3) = 43.25, p = 0.000, p<0.05,department and schedule for collecting medical waste(X2(7) = 31.043, p = 0.005, p<0.05),cadre and vaccination/treatment compliance (X2(3) = 25.57, p = 0.000, p<0.05),cadre and PPE compliance(X2(3) = 11.36, p = 0.001, p<0.05)and between cadre and reporting of an injury experienced during handling medical waste(X2(l3) = 30.54, p = 0.001, p<0.05). The results identified gaps in compliance practices while incinerating waste and following safety measures in place, hence creating awareness among Health workers while handling medical waste and timely repairs of incinerator plants so as to comply with medical waste practices in the Hospital.