Awareness Level of Workers in the Management of Medical Waste Generated from Hospitals in Bayelsa State (Published)
There is an increase awareness of the public on the dangers associated with the improper disposal of medical waste in this country predominantly waste contaminated with communicable disease agent. Given the general lack of knowledge and effective practice of medical waste documentation about the composition of bio-hazardous waste and the large amount generated, it becomes so difficult to evaluate strategies for waste reduction. The present work presents awareness level of workers in the management of medical waste generated from hospitals in Bayelsa State. The study aimed at assessing the awareness levels and knowledge on the documentation of medical waste among healthcare workers in the various healthcare institutions. The waste generated were weighed kg at source (various unit) for days, week monthly for a period of 3nonths at various unit in the health facilities. Other relevant data were obtained via well-structured questionnaire, and considering the Cochran formula, a sample size of 300 was obtained. Data were further analysed using simple percentage, frequency and charts. Result indicated that there was very poor awareness level of workers in the management of medical waste generated from hospitals in Bayelsa State, and that the level of knowledge on waste documentation as a practice of medical waste management was poor and supercilious in a twenty first century medical waste management process. Thus, it was recommended that the concern government agency should carry out sensitization, awareness, training and retraining of medical workers at the various healthcare institutions on effective medical waste management. Staff of the various hospitals should be properly trained on significance of documentation of waste generated in the various unit on the health facility and there should be provision of all medical waste management infrastructures to cushion the likely impact of these wastes on the on the workers and the general environment.
Keywords: Waste Generation, healthcare institution, medical waste, medical waste management, pathological waste and genotoxic waste, sharp waste, waste documentation
Perceived Effect of Waste Generation on the Climate among Rural Households in Oyo State, Nigeria (Published)
This study examined the perceived effect of waste generation on climate change among rural households in Oyo state, Nigeria. Two local government areas were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts in Oyo state from which five villages each were randomly selected. A total of 15 households across the selected villages were randomly selected to give a total sample size of 150 respondents. Data were collected through the use of interview schedule and analyzed using frequencies and percentages to present the descriptive analysis, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi- Square were used for inferential analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the average age of the respondents in the study area was 37 years, as majority (75.0%) were married and had no formal education (63.2%). Majority (90.0%) were farmers, had small farm size (86.1%) of range 1-5 acres. Kitchen waste (94.7%), crop waste (88.8%) and animal waste (65.3%) were the major waste generated within the households in the study area. Most (92.0%) of the respondents disposed their wastes making use of sacks (83.3%) 62.0% and 74.7% dispose their waste into drainage channels (62.0%) and flowing stream (74.7%) respectively. Few (14.7%) obtained information on waste management practices through the radio. Majority (78.2%) had low knowledge level on waste management practice and wrong perception (79.2%) of the effects of waste generation to climate change. Level of education (ᵪ2 = 9.273, sources of information on waste management practices (r = 0.325) and knowledge on waste management practices (r = 0.276) have influence on the perceived effect of waste generation to climate change. There is the need to create awareness on the environmental effect of waste and inappropriate waste management practices among rural households.
Keywords: Climate Change, Knowledge on Waste Management, Perceived Effect of Waste, Waste Generation, Waste Management, Waste.
Perceived Effect of Waste Generation on the Climate among Rural Households in Oyo State, Nigeria (Published)
This study examined the perceived effect of waste generation on climate change among rural households in Oyo state, Nigeria. Two local government areas were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts in Oyo state from which five villages each were randomly selected. A total of 15 households across the selected villages were randomly selected to give a total sample size of 150 respondents. Data were collected through the use of interview schedule and analyzed using frequencies and percentages to present the descriptive analysis, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi- Square were used for inferential analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the average age of the respondents in the study area was 37 years, as majority (75.0%) were married and had no formal education (63.2%). Majority (90.0%) were farmers, had small farm size (86.1%) of range 1-5 acres. Kitchen waste (94.7%), crop waste (88.8%) and animal waste (65.3%) were the major waste generated within the households in the study area. Most (92.0%) of the respondents disposed their wastes making use of sacks (83.3%) 62.0% and 74.7% dispose their waste into drainage channels (62.0%) and flowing stream (74.7%) respectively. Few (14.7%) obtained information on waste management practices through the radio. Majority (78.2%) had low knowledge level on waste management practice and wrong perception (79.2%) of the effects of waste generation to climate change. Level of education (ᵪ2 = 9.273, sources of information on waste management practices (r = 0.325) and knowledge on waste management practices (r = 0.276) have influence on the perceived effect of waste generation to climate change. There is the need to create awareness on the environmental effect of waste and inappropriate waste management practices among rural households.
Keywords: Climate Change, Knowledge on Waste Management, Perceived Effect of Waste, Waste Generation, Waste Management, Waste.
