EVALUATION OF PERCEIVED DANGERS OF HEALTHCARE WASTES AMONG PATIENTS AND THE WORKERS IN OSUN STATE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study specifically examined the various wastes generated in healthcare facilities
among workers and patients in Ile-Ife and Ilesha. It assessed the workers and the
patients’ knowledge about healthcare wastes management in the study area;
determined the healthcare wastes management practices among workers and patients
in the study area; and assessed the perceived health dangers of healthcare wastes
among the patients and workers in the study area. The study adopted a descriptive
survey research design. The sample consisted of 200 workers and 400 patients at
different healthcare facilities. The research instrument used was a self-designed
which consisted section 'A' and 'B' The questionnaire was to collect information from
the respondents was placed on agreed and disagreed. Data collected were presented
and analyzed using simple percentage statistical analysis of t-test table. The finding
showed that there were various waste generated among workers and patients in
healthcare facilities, the patients were not knowledgeable about the healthcare waste
management, majority of the workers had good practice of healthcare wastes disposal
than the patients. Finally there was a significant difference in the perceived dangers
of healthcare wastes between the patients and workers. It was recommended that the
3 tiers of government should educate the healthcare giver that wastes should be
handled with proper care.