Knowledge and Practice about Infectious Waste Management at Government Health Center

Abstract

The purpose of research was to survey knowledge and practice about Infectious
Waste Management at a Government Health Center by 4th year public health
students. Sample sizes were 47 subjects. The instrument was the questionnaire
consisting of problem assessment about infectious waste management, knowledge
and practice about infectious waste management in Government Health Centers, and
solutions about infectious waste management. Data were analyzed by descriptive
statistics and Chi square test. For the result, students had 1 to 3 years of working
experience. They had knowledge about Infectious waste management before
learning 89.4 %. The most common of wastes were contaminated blood and body
fluid objects. The first and second of Infectious waste management problems at
Government Health Center were limited funding and not well understanding about
infectious waste management. The implementation standard of infectious waste
management at Government Health Center being collection, selection,
transportation, treatment, and disposal practiced correctly 68.9, 73.3, 64.4 and 66.7
respectively. The procedures below standard included temperature control for
remain wastes more than 7 days, disinfectant using, coordination with local
government, insufficient incinerator, and incinerator maintenance. The acceptable
practices were collected area for remains over 7 days, using of self protection
equipments, except cloth mask and gloves. The adequate practices were infectious
waste separation, suitable container, and infectious waste transportation. In
addition the very good practices were infectious waste storage and packing,
dumping places, and using cloth mask and gloves. The appropriate solutions were
request of sufficient supported budget and communication about each procedure of
infectious waste management.