KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN WUKARI LGA, TARABA STATE

Abstract

This study examined the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical waste management among
primary health care workers in Wukari LGA. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional
research design and a total of 233 health workers (doctors, nurses, paramedics and sanitary
workers) were sampled; a self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the
respondents. The findings of this study revealed a high level of knowledge among healthcare
workers on medical waste management methods in Primary Health Care in Wukari LGA, majority
of respondents demonstrated awareness of the classification of medical waste and the importance
of segregation from general waste. Pearson Correlation shows a correlation coefficient of 0.024
and a p-value of 0.712, thus there is no significant relationship between healthcare workers'
knowledge and medical waste management practice in primary healthcare in Wukari LGA also, a
p-value of 0.620 signifies that there is no significant relationship between healthcare workers’
attitude and their years of experience towards medical waste management in primary health care,
Wukari LGA. In conclusion, the findings of the study indicate that primary healthcare workers in
Wukari LGA have a high level of knowledge, a strong attitude, and practice proper medical waste
management methods in Primary Health Care facilities.