Factors Affecting Proper Medical Waste Management (A Case Study of Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar-Tanzania)

Abstract

Said Suleiman Bakari*, Rahibu A. Abassi, Rehema Abdalla Ally, Hassan Rashid Ali and Rashid Juma Rashid

The Mnazi Mmoja Hospital (MMH) was selected as it is the central hospital found in Zanzibar Islands. The study was conducted to examine factors affecting proper medical waste management at (MMH) in Zanzibar. It assesses the storage, separation, collection methods, transportation and evaluates modes of medical waste disposal to the final disposal point. A sample of 50 MMH staffs including doctors, nurses, infection prevention control staffs, and wastes handlers were considered for the study using case study design. The questionnaire survey includes demographic profile; storage, separation and collection methods; transportation methods; treatment and disposal methods, and basic questions that have effect on proper medical wastes management was designed in a closed-ended format as well as direct observation was also included. The data shows that proper medical wastes management at MMH is now in midway condition in which awareness and knowledge has been improved among the staffs. It was revealed that there is clear improvement in awareness and knowledge regarding proper medical wastes management among the staffs. This is probably due to efforts made by hospital management to enhance the staff’s capacity building through different training for the hospital staffs, such as seminars, guidelines provision and updated policies reviews. The study recommends that the imposed laws and rules that governing proper handling of medical wastes should be maintained for proper medical wastes management at MMH.

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