Assessing the effectiveness of healthcare waste management in Uganda’s Public Hospitals: a case study of China-Uganda Friendship Hospital-Naguru and Kiruddu Hospital

Abstract

This study is to assess the effectiveness of Healthcare waste management in Uganda public hospitals; a case study of China-Uganda Friendship Hospital-Naguru and Kiruddu Hospital. The study was guided by study objectives which included examining Healthcare waste management practices, the factors affecting effective Healthcare waste management and strategies for improving Healthcare waste management in public hospitals. The study used cross sectional research design on all objectives and considered both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. For every objective, quantitative and qualitative data was considered. A sample size of 146 respondents from China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru and 162 respondents from Kiruddu hospital was targeted. However, 123 respondents and 130 respondents from China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru and Kiruddu hospital respectively managed to respond back. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guide. The study revealed that the Hospitals had adopted some Healthcare waste management practices. The two hospitals buried some of the healthcare waste. They also kept non-hazardous healthcare wastes in the dust bins. Unlike Kiruddu hospital, China Uganda Friendship Hospital-Naguru used brick incinerator and microwaving technology in managing health waste. Kiruddu hospital was largely burning the Healthcare waste in the open pit, dumping in the rubbish pits and open areas. However, none of the hospitals used the grinding technology of Healthcare waste management and disposal. Furthermore, both hospitals had color coded & labeled containers to segregate the waste. However, most containers lacked biohazard symbols as a result of insufficient financial support towards Healthcare waste management and low priority given to waste management. It was also revealed that there was lack of waste segregation practices and lack of modern waste management technologies. Respondents further revealed that there is need for increasing the budget so that allocation in the Healthcare waste management technologies is also increased. Promoting recycling through sterilization, training and educating hospital staff and strongly enforcing of the waste management laws was highly recommended. There is need for more incinerators at Kiruddu hospital. The study recommended that there is need to have a constant supply of the equipment, more importantly segregation bags/containers well labeled with different colors. The need to ensure that there is strict adherence to the regulations guiding Healthcare waste management was highlighted. There is also need for continuous awareness to all hospital personnel. In addition, Government needs to increase funding to public hospitals to enable them adopt best technologies of managing Healthcare waste.