Department of Community Medicine, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, U.P, India
*Corresponding author: Pawan Parashar, Professor, Community Medicine, Subharti Medical College, Delhi-Haridwar Byepass Road, Meerut, UP, India. Tel: (+91) 9927013538, (+91) 0121 2439056 Ext. 2146;Fax: (+91) 0121 2439127; e-mail: drpparashar@rediffmail.com
Online published on 11 March, 2014.
The waste produced in the course of healthcare activities carries a higher potential for infection and injury than any other type of waste. Inadequate and inappropriate knowledge of handling of healthcare waste may have serious health consequences and a significant impact on the environment as well. It is estimated that 10–25% of health care waste is hazardous, with potential for creating variety of health problems. As per implementation of Bio- medical waste management and handling rules 1998, every health workers is expected to have proper knowledge, attitude and practices which can be improved with trainings.
(1) To assess the knowledge and awareness of paramedical workers regarding hospital waste management. (2) To assess the impact of educational intervention on the knowledge of paramedical workers regarding Bio-medical waste management.
A cross sectional interventional study was conducted among 100 paramedical workers of tertiary care hospital of Meerut from 1st October to 31st December 2011 by using a pre-tested structured questionnaire to detect the level of awareness regarding Biomedical waste management. Data was compared pre and post intervention (Educational training), by paired t-test, considering p<0.05 to be significant.
Among study subjects, 67% were males and 33% were females health workers. This study indicates that baseline knowledge and awareness regarding Bio- Medical Waste Management among the paramedical workers in Tertiary Care Hospital, Meerut UP was quite poor (34.78%). Overall positive change (43.78%) was found in knowledge and awareness of paramedical workers after training. There was 43.78% increase in knowledge about bio-medical waste management before and after educational intervention which was statistically highly significant (p<0.0001)
Knowledge and awareness regarding Bio-medical waste management among paramedical workers was poor. Educational intervention was effective in improving knowledge and awareness regarding Biomedical waste management among paramedical workers.
Bio-Medical Waste Management, Paramedical Workers, Trainings Of Workers
