Abstract
Background
Medical waste has evolved over the years due to increasing healthcare facilities, the interplay of diseases such as COVID-19, and newly classified fields of study. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased medical waste considerably across the globe, giving rise to new challenges. Among some of those challenges, occupational health risks have risen. In consideration of the ongoing waste challenges in Johannesburg, Gauteng: the closure of the majority of the governmental incineration facilities, the city running out of landfill air space, and the function of medical waste relying solely on the private sector, it was, therefore, necessary to explore this study to aid in continuous improvement in this sector under similar straineous pandemics. Moreover, we should prioritise occupational health risks alongside a well-functioning waste management system.
Aim
The study aimed to determine factors associated with COVID-19 infection among employees handling medical waste in selected healthcare risk waste (HCRW) facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Methods
A cross-sectional study design was used, centred on quantitative methods. The respondents were medical waste handlers specialising in waste generation, transportation, and final disposal. They were sourced from eight healthcare risk waste (HCRW) facilities. A total of 33 study respondents completed structured questionnaires through Google Forms, telephone interviews, or hard copies. The quantitative data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential data from the Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Statistics Data Software (STATA).
Results
A response rate of 10.7% was reached. Limitations with getting enough approval from study sites and participation contributed to the low response rate. The analysis showed that 21.9% of medical waste handlers who participated in the study tested positive for COVID-19, while 78.1% tested negative for COVID-19. In addition, 85.7% of positive cases were male. Notably, medical waste handlers in HCRW facilities in Johannesburg, Gauteng, were at a minimal risk of COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, comorbidity (COR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.77-1.50, p=0.688) and vaccination (COR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.66-1.30, p=0.669) status did not indicate statistical associations with COVID-19-positive cases.
Conclusion
The limitation of sample size (small sample size) makes it difficult to make an inference. Nonetheless, it is recommended that occupational health risks continue to be prioritised through various
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interventions, including PPE use and training, vaccination, site supervision, and overall company proceedings, as this will aid in minimising probable occupational health risks.