Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: December | Volume: 6 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 314-318
Solid Medical Waste Treatment Methods by Health Care Facilities in Abia State, Nigeria
Akingbehin S.A.1, Amadi C.O.A.2, Iro O.K.3, Azuamah Y.C.4, Amadi A.N.2
1Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Lagos, Nigeria
2Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
3Department of Environmental Health Science, Abia state University Uturu, Nigeria
4Department of Optometry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Akingbehin S.A
ABSTRACT
Medical wastes include sharps, pathological wastes, chemical wastes, infective wastes, pharmaceutical wastes and radioactive wastes. This study was carried out to determine the solid medical waste treatment methods by health care facilities in Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria. A harmonized checklist and a well-structured questionnaire were used to obtain data from 15 health care facilities and 552 workers. All the respondents gave an informed consent to be part of the study. Results of the study showed that for the treatment of sharps, shedding was indicated by 122 (22.10%) respondents; autoclaving, 200 (36.23%); incineration, 282 (51.09%); thermal inactivation, 28 (5.07%); chemical disinfection, 50 (9.06%); no treatment, 218 (39.49%). For pathological waste, shedding was indicated by 190 (34.42%) respondents; autoclaving, 12 (2.17%); incineration, 115 (20.83%); thermal inactivation, 135 (24.46%); chemical disinfection, 170 (30.80%); no treatment, 278 (50.36%). For treatment of radioactive waste, shedding was indicated by 10 (1.81%) respondents; autoclaving, 47 (8.51%); incineration, 35 (6.34%); thermal inactivation, 53 (9.60%); chemical disinfection, 193 (34.96%); no treatment, 214 (38.77%). For treatment of chemical waste, shedding was indicated by 93 (16.85%) respondents; autoclaving, 132 (23.91%); incineration, 27 (4.89%); thermal inactivation, 81 (14.67%); chemical disinfection, 194 (35.14%); no treatment, 106 (19.20%). For infectious waste, shedding was indicated by 72 (13.04%) respondents; autoclaving, 131 (23.73%); incineration, 42 (7.61%); thermal inactivation, 173 (31.34%); chemical disinfection, 245 (44.38%); no treatment, 34 (6.16%). For pharmaceutical waste, shedding was indicated by 111 (20.11%) respondents; autoclaving, 159 (28.80%); incineration, 142 (25.72%); thermal inactivation, 82 (14.86%); chemical disinfection, 100 (18.12%); no treatment, 101 (18.30%).
Key words: Medical waste, Incineration, Autoclaving, Shedding, Chemical disinfection
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