Abstract
Abstract : Private health care providers are required to manage their health care risk waste (HCRW) in a manner that does not threaten people’s lives and the environment. Incidents of dumped HCRW in Durban raised concerns about public health and environmental protection. Therefore, this initiated a need for the assessment of HCRW management by waste generators. This study therefore, aimed at assessing the knowledge, understanding, interpretation and practices of private health care providers at the townships in Durban on HCRW management. The focus was from point of generation until treatment and disposal. A quantitative research approach was followed, using a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Data was collected in forty (n=40) private health care providers with forty (n=40) persons in charge of health care facilities and fifteen (n=15) nurses using structured questionnaires which were intended to determine the knowledge, understanding, interpretation and practices of private health care providers on HCRW management, as well as to assess the monitoring of private health care providers by environmental health practitioners (EHP). Collected data was analysed using the International Business Machine Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013. The results showed that the majority of nurses and persons in charge of health care facilities had the correct knowledge, understanding and practices on HCRW management, although eighty percent (80%) of facilities had no waste management plans and most of them had poor occupational health and safety systems. The monitoring of private health care providers by EHPs was found to be essential in order to ensure that compliance is achieved. However, it was found that thirty-two point five percent (32.5%) of the participating facilities did not receive formally written inspection reports from EHPs after inspections were conducted. Continuous education and training on HCRW management in private health care providers is very important thus, this study recommends that both should be put in place. Waste management planning and occupational health and safety systems also need to be prioritised. EHPs should ensure that they strengthen continuous monitoring of private health care providers, and written inspection reports should be provided within a reasonable time to the premises inspected. Key words: Health care risk waste; private health care providers; knowledge; waste management practices.
M.Tech. (Environmental Health)