Occupational Health Hazards among Workers Dealing with Medical Waste Disposal in Outpatient Clinics

Abstract

Background: Medical Waste disposal workers are continually exposed to occupational health hazards. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess occupational health hazards among workers dealing with medical waste Disposal in outpatient clinics. Research design: A descriptive explanatory design used to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at outpatient clinic at family medicine centers. Subjects: A convenient sample of 250 workers who dealing with medical waste. Tools: Two tools were used for data collection; 1st tool, interview questioner sheet consist of four part; demographic data of the studied workers, knowledge about medical waste and occupational health hazards, workers medical history and exposure to occupational health hazards. 2nd tool, Observational checklist to evaluate the medical waste workers practice and environmental workplace. Results; the study finding revealed that, 83.2% of them were exposed to biological hazards, 95.2% of them were exposed to physical hazards., 71.2% of them were exposed to psychological hazards. Furthermore 87.2% of the studied samples have unsatisfactory level of total knowledge; also 84.0% of the studied sample have inadequate level of total practice. There was highly significant positive correlation between total knowledge and total practice regarding medical waste management among studied sample at P= < 0.01. Conclusion: the present study concluded that, the most of study workers exposed to biological, physical and psychological hazards. The current study also clarified that most of study workers who dealing with medical waste have unsatisfactory knowledge. The present study showed also the most of the study workers dealing with medical waste has inadequate level of total practices. Also, most of the work place environment (temporary storage room of medical waste) not standard. The current study showed that there is highly significant relation between socio-demographic data and their knowledge as well as that there is highly significant relation between the total knowledge and total practice. Recommendation: Providing continuous educational programs and on-job training for all workers who dealing with medical waste to improve their performance when dealing with medical waste.