Assessment Of Medical Solid Waste Generation Rate And Management Practices: The Case Of Burayu Town Health Centers, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Effective management of medical waste is critical due to its hazardous nature and the potential risks it poses to both human health and the environment. This study aimed to assess the generation rate and management practices of medical solid waste in Burayu town. An institutional-based cross-sectional research design was employed, involving data collection from two health centers and eleven medium clinics in Burayu. These facilities were proportionally selected to represent different levels of specialization, capacity, and ownership (both private and public), using random sampling techniques. Data were gathered through questionnaires, interviews, direct observation, and field measurements, and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings revealed that the handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of medical solid waste in the town exhibited low compliance with national healthcare waste management guidelines and WHO standards, indicating poor segregation practices, inadequate containment infrastructure, lack of proper transport protocols, and absence of environmentally sound final disposal methods—thereby posing significant risks of environmental contamination and public health hazards. Many facilities relied on low-efficiency, single-chamber incinerators, which significantly contributed to air pollution. The average total healthcare waste generation rate was found to be 0.79 kg/day per facility. A more accurate assessment of waste generation was suggested through measurements based on the amount generated per patient per day (kg/patient/day).The composition of hazardous healthcare solid waste included 67.5 kg/day (54.4%) infectious waste, 42 kg/day (33.9%) pharmaceutical waste, and 13.5 kg/day (11.7%) sharps waste—highlighting the substantial generation of pharmaceutical waste in particular. The study identified the main barriers to effective waste management as inadequate funding, limited training, and administrative inefficiencies. Hence, it is recommended to develop and implement comprehensive healthcare waste management plans and policies, underpinned by robust environmental management systems within health facilities, to ensure sustainable and effective handling of medical waste