Abstract:
Background: Health care waste is a by-product of health care that includes potential risk and
non-risk wastes. In the absence of waste segregation, however, all wastes generated in health
care facilities can be considered as infectious and hazardous. As a result there is chance of
getting serious life threatening infections such as hepatitis virus and Human immunity Virus
(HIV) due to risk of direct contact with blood, body fluids, and sharp injuries.
Objective: The aim of this study to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of cleaners
towards Health Care Wastes management and its associated factors in public health care
facilities, West Shewa.
Method: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 229 randomly selected
cleaners working in public health care facilities of West Shewa Zone from July 2022 to
September 2022. Data were collected by structured questionnaire and observational check list
from the study participants. Then data were entered into Epi-data 3.1 software and exported into
SPSS version 21 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed and the results were
presented by texts, tables and figures. Both bi-variable and multi -variable logistic regression
analysis were done. In bivariate analysis variables with a P-value of <0.25 were selected as
candidate variables for multi variable logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with
95% CI and P -value <0.05 were considered to declare a significant association between
independent and outcome variables.
Result: Out of total, 229 study participants were participated in the study by making 94.6%
response rate. In this study, 109(47.6%), 110(48%) and 65 (28.4%) of the study participants had
good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice regarding health care waste management
respectively. Having information on health care waste management, prior training, supervision
and level of education were variables that showed significant association with KAP of health
care waste management in the study area.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concluded that knowledge, attitude and practice
of the study participants were low. Having information on health care waste management,
training, supervision and level of education were variables that showed significant association
with KAP of cleaners. Awareness creation including orientation, information provision about
health care waste management, on job training and supervision of cleaners is necessary.
