TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................... i
COPYRIGHT...................................................................................................................... ii
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION.......................................................................................... iii
APPROVAL ...................................................................................................................... iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................. v
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS…………………………………………………………….vi
KEY DEFINITIONS ..........................................................................................………..vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION................................................................................. 1
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of the study ............................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problem statement......................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Purpose of the study...................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Specific objectives........................................................................................................ 4
1.5 Research questions........................................................................................................ 4
1.6 Justification of the study ............................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................... 6
2.0 Introduction................................................................................................................... 6
2.1The healthcare waste management practices................................................................. 6
2.2 Knowledge of health workers about proper waste management ................................ 11
x
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 13
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 13
3.2 Study design and rationale.......................................................................................... 14
3.3 Study setting and rationale.......................................................................................... 14
3.4 Study Population......................................................................................................... 15
3.4.1 Sample size determination ....................................................................................... 15
3.4.2 Sampling procedure ................................................................................................. 16
3.4.3 Selection criteria of participants .............................................................................. 16
3.4.3.1 Inclusion criteria ................................................................................................... 16
3.4.3.2 Exclusion criteria .................................................................................................. 16
3.5 Definition of study variables....................................................................................... 16
3.6 Research Instruments.................................................................................................. 17
3.7 Data collection procedure ........................................................................................... 17
3.8 Data management........................................................................................................ 18
3.9 Data analysis............................................................................................................... 18
3.10 Ethical considerations............................................................................................... 18
3.11 Limitations of the study ............................................................................................ 19
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS …………………. .......................................... ………….20
4.0 Introduction................................................................................................................. 20
4.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents .............................................................. 20
xi
4.2 Healthcare waste management practices employed by health workers in Kampala
International University Teaching Hospital...................................................................... 21
4.3 The knowledge of health workers about proper waste management in Kampala
International University Teaching Hospital...................................................................... 22
4.3.1 Knowledge factors contributing to proper waste management in maternity ward .. 22
4.3.2 Other knowledge factors contributing to poor waste segregation ........................... 24
4.3.3 What can be done to ensure proper waste segregation in maternity ward? ............. 25
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ... 26
5.0 Introduction................................................................................................................. 26
5.1 Discussion of the study findings................................................................................. 27
5.1.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents ........................................................... 27
5.1.2 The healthcare waste management practices employed by health workers in
Kampala International University Teaching Hospital ...................................................... 27
5.1.3 The knowledge of health workers about proper waste management in Kampala
International University Teaching Hospital...................................................................... 29
5.2 Conclusions................................................................................................................. 30
5.3 Recommendations....................................................................................................... 31
5.4 Implications to Nursing Practice................................................................................. 32
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 33
APPENDICES .................................................................................................................. 37
APPENDIX I: CONSENT FORM.................................................................................... 37
ABSTRACT This study aimed at assessing factors contributing to poor waste segregation in maternity ward at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital (KIUTH) in Bushenyi District; it specifically assessed the healthcare waste management practices employed by health workers in KIUTH and the knowledge of health workers towards proper waste management in KIUTH. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used where by 33 participants were selected using purposive sampling method. Results from the majority of the participants showed that the maternity ward of KIUTH did not have Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) committee, policy, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), protective gears and proper color coding system for waste segregation, collection, transportation and storage, as well as the specific well-trained waste handlers. Generally, the study found out that majority of the participants had very low level of awareness of existence of regulating procedures and knowledge on how waste was managed at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital. The researcher therefore concludes that continuous training of hospital staff is an important way of ensuring that knowledge is enhanced among environmental health practitioners, nurses, and doctors in particular, about the management of healthcare waste. There should be proper segregation of waste with clear color codes as specified in Infection Control Policies and Procedures showing RED for highly infectious waste, YELLOW for infectious waste and BLACK for noninfectious waste should be used for proper waste management. The government and administrative committee should look into the provision of protective gears to all healthcare workers to reduce potential health risks that could arise as a result of poor waste management.
