Year: 2026 | Month: July-September | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 135-147
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20260316
Assessment of Knowledge and Practice of Biomedical Waste Management Among Health Workers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
Chidiebere Joy Nwankwo1, Chimdindu Favour Nwaeze1, Victoria Ginika Awari1, Matthew Chinwemadu Nwachukwu1, Amala Joy Onyenekwe1, Isaiah Chimezie Abonyi1
1Department of Environmental Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Chidiebere Nwankwo Joy
ABSTRACT
Background: Biomedical waste management (BMWM) has emerged as a major public health, occupational safety, and environmental concern worldwide. Healthcare facilities generate substantial quantities of hazardous waste, including infectious materials, sharps, pathological waste, pharmaceutical residues, and chemical waste. When improperly managed, these wastes expose healthcare workers, patients, waste handlers, and communities to infectious diseases, toxic substances, and environmental pollution. Healthcare workers play a central role in ensuring proper biomedical waste segregation, handling, transportation, treatment, and disposal. Therefore, understanding their knowledge and practices is critical for improving compliance with recommended waste management standards.
Aim: The study aimed to determine the knowledge of health workers regarding biomedical waste management and assess biomedical waste management practices among health workers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed among 255 healthcare workers selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were used to summarize data, while inferential statistics (Chi-square test) examined associations between relevant variables at a significance level of p < .05.
Results: The findings indicated that 64.7% of respondents had received formal training on biomedical waste management. Most respondents (84.3%) recognized biomedical waste management as the responsibility of all healthcare workers, while 90.2% correctly identified the appropriate disposal method for used syringes. More than half (54.9%) reported always segregating waste appropriately. However, 39.2% had experienced needle-stick injuries, and a significant proportion failed to report such incidents. Observational findings revealed moderate compliance with waste management protocols, particularly regarding color-coded bins and sharps disposal, but identified deficiencies in personal protective equipment utilization and infrastructure. Significant associations were found between knowledge and practices (χ²=14.82, p=.002); and professional category and practices (χ²=12.56, p=.041).
Conclusion: Healthcare workers at NAUTH demonstrated relatively good knowledge of biomedical waste management; however, gaps remain in practical implementation and institutional compliance. Continuous training, infrastructure improvement, and strengthened monitoring systems are required to ensure effective biomedical waste management and protect occupational and environmental health.
Keywords: Biomedical waste management, Knowledge, Practices, Healthcare workers, Waste segregation, Waste disposal, Occupational safety.