Level of adherence, awareness and challenges to medical waste management program in two hospitals, a comparative study
Keywords:
Medical waste management, adherence, awareness, healthcare workers, waste disposal, infection controlAbstract
Background: Healthcare acquired infections are associated with increased morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients and predisposes healthcare workers (HCWs) to an increased risk of infections. This study explores the knowledge and practices of infection control among HCW in a two hospitals.
Objective: to measure the level of adherence and awareness of healthcare workers towards medical waste management and identify individual and institutional factors that influence adherence to proper practices.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional design was used, involving 200 healthcare workers from Al-Obour (Ain shams university specialized hospital at Al- Obour city) and Al-Abbasia fever hospital (governmental hospital). Data collection tools included structured interviews, Likert-scale adherence assessments, and observational checklists based on national infection control guidelines.
Results: The results revealed that healthcare workers at Al-Abbasia hospital demonstrated significantly higher awareness and adherence scores compared to those at Al-Obour hospital. Cleaning workers, while showing improved scores at Al-Abbasia, reported the lowest adherence levels overall. Awareness and practice scores were significantly correlated, highlighting the interplay between understanding and execution of proper waste management. Demographic factors, such as age and work experience, showed no significant association with adherence or awareness levels.
Conclusion: the study revealed significant differences in infection control practices between Al-Obour and Al-Abbasia hospitals, with Al-Abbasia showing better awareness and adherence. The findings highlight the impact of institutional practices and continuous training on compliance. These insights can be integrated into the results section to enhance the analysis of infection control measures.
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