Abstract:
The study examined hospital solid waste management practices the Eastern
Region of Ghana. A total of 320 hospital staff from six selected hospitals were
randomly selected for the study with 279 returned responses for the
questionnaire used. Interviews were conducted among 15 purposively selected
staff from the six selected hospitals, the private waste collecting company, the
Municipal Assembly and the Environmental Protection Agency. SPSS Version
20 was used to analysed questionnaires. Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square and
Spearman correlation were used to test for difference and relationships. The
results showed that hospitals do not keep records on the quantity of waste
generated. Waste separation practices were poor at all the hospitals except at
Koforidua laboratory unit where proper separation was done. The main waste
treatment methods used by the hospitals were incineration and bio-digestion.
Disposal methods were dumping at open and controlled dumpsites, open
burning and burying. Three of the hospitals engaged a private waste collection
company for services while the other three did not. There was no specific
policy framework at each hospital and two hospitals did not have copies of the
national policy. Linkages between the hospitals and other stakeholders were
weak. There were no statistical difference between the awareness of different
categories of staff about health hazards associated with hospital solid waste (p
= .463), as well as attitudes toward waste (p = .542). Occupational health and
safety practiced by hospital staff was the use of personal protective equipment.
Solid waste management practices at the hospitals were below standard.
Hospitals should organise training on waste segregation, provide resources and
collaborate with stakeholders to ensure good waste management practices.
