Abstract : In pursuit of the goal to reduce health problems, eliminate potential risks, and treat individuals with illnesses, healthcare services inherently generate waste that may pose hazards to health. Waste generated during healthcare activities poses a greater risk of infection and injury compared to other waste types. Inadequate knowledge and improper handling of healthcare waste can lead to severe health consequences and have substantial environmental impacts. Annually, India generates around 0.33 million tons of hospital waste, with a waste generation rate ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 kg per bed per day [1]. Regardless of its origin, adopting a safe and reliable method for managing biomedical waste is crucial. Proper biomedical waste management is not only a legal obligation but also a social responsibility. Despite existing legal provisions, such as the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules of 1998 [2], aimed at mitigating the impact of hazardous and infectious hospital waste on the community, complete implementation of these provisions remains elusive. Critical issues associated with healthcare waste include the absence of proper waste management, insufficient awareness about health hazards from biomedical waste, inadequate financial and human resources, and poor control of waste disposal [3]. The hazardous impact of medical waste on the public and the environment significantly increases without appropriate handling. Hospital waste management has far-reaching implications, affecting the health of patients, healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, sanitary staff, etc.), and the general public. Despite increased global awareness among health professionals about hazards and appropriate management techniques, the level of awareness in India is considered inadequate [4-5].
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Cite : Thakur, S., & Sodani, P. (2023). To Assess The Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Of Bio-Medical Waste Management Among Medical And Housekeeping Staff (1st ed., p. 26). Noble Science Press. https://doi.org/10.52458/9788196830076.2023.eb.ch-07
References :
Patil, A. D., & Shekdar, A. V. (2001). Health-care waste management in India. Journal of environmental management, 63(2), 211-220.
Ministry of Environment and forest notification on the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules.1998
World Health Organization. (2005). Safe management of bio-medical sharps waste in India (No. SEA-EH-548). WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.
Pandit, N. B., Mehta, H. K., Kartha, G. P., & Choudhary, S. K. (2005). Management of bio-medical waste: Awareness and practices in a district of Gujarat. Indian journal of public health, 49(4), 245-247.
Hegde, V., Kulkarni, R. D., & Ajantha, G. S. (2007). Biomedical waste management. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, 11(1), 5-9.
