Biomedical Waste Product Management in Pediatric Units and Its Relation to the Occurrence of Occupational Health Hazards

Ali, Asmaa; Salih, Amal Mohamed Elhusein; Mostafa, Shimaa Mahmoud Mohammed; Fahmy, Amira

doi:10.21608/ejnsr.2022.212197

Biomedical Waste Product Management in Pediatric Units and Its Relation to the Occurrence of Occupational Health Hazards

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University- egypt

² Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, College of Applied medical sciences, University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing Science, University of Khartoum- Soudan.

³ Mother Health and Obstetric Nursing Specialist, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University – Egypt

⁴ Lecturer of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University – Egypt.

10.21608/ejnsr.2022.212197

Abstract

Background: Biomedical waste management is a vital component of the environmental protection process Aim of the study: To determine biomedical waste product management in pediatric units and its relation to the occurrence of occupational health hazards. Research design: A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized in the current study. Subjects: A convenient sample of 116 health care providers (physician, nurses, and housekeepers) were involved in the current study. Setting: The current study was carried out at Minia university hospital for obstetrics and pediatrics. Data collection Tools: three tools were used in this study, Tool I: knowledge about bio-medical waste management; Tool II: attitudes toward biomedical waste management; and Tool III: occupational health hazards questionnaire. Results: nearly half (48.1%) of the studied health care providers had poor knowledge regarding biomedical waste management, and the majority (83.3%) of them had a positive attitude toward it. Also, there was a fair negative correlation between health care providers' knowledge about biomedical waste product management on exposure to physical health hazards. Conclusion: Pediatric health care providers' knowledge about biomedical waste management need to improve to decrease their occupational health hazards. Recommendation: provide pediatric health care providers continued training to reduce their risk of occupational health hazards, mainly inorganic, psycho-social, organic, and physical health hazards.

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