Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Despite Ghana's healthcare waste management guidelines, improper solid waste management remains a public health concern. This study sought to assess the knowledge, and practices of waste handlers involved in solid healthcare waste management in selected health facilities in...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21874-6 |
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| author | Michael Affordofe Emilia A. Udofia Enoch Akyeampong Francis Ofosu Koranteng Prudence Tettey Paul K. Botwe Theresah Andoh Elijah Kwasi Peprah Hope Yaw Attah Philip Tabong Godfred Boateng Reginald Quansah |
| author_facet | Michael Affordofe Emilia A. Udofia Enoch Akyeampong Francis Ofosu Koranteng Prudence Tettey Paul K. Botwe Theresah Andoh Elijah Kwasi Peprah Hope Yaw Attah Philip Tabong Godfred Boateng Reginald Quansah |
| author_sort | Michael Affordofe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Despite Ghana's healthcare waste management guidelines, improper solid waste management remains a public health concern. This study sought to assess the knowledge, and practices of waste handlers involved in solid healthcare waste management in selected health facilities in Accra, Ghana. Methods This study employed a descriptive phenomenology study design. All 31 waste handlers from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Tema General Hospital, and Shai-Osudoku Hospital participated in this study. We employed a focus group discussion guide, transcribed the audio-recorded interviews, and then uploaded the data into NVivo 14 software for coding. We synthesized the output into themes, sub-themes, and verbatim quotes to support the sub-themes. Results The waste handlers were able to describe the different types of healthcare waste, but they were unable to label the colour codes according to the national colours used to identify the waste as hazardous or non-hazardous. In many cases, there was no attempt at managing infectious and sharp wastes, which resulted in needle pricks, falls, or even injuries due to poor transport systems. Most of the waste handlers lacked infection-fighting vaccinations. Conclusions For effective healthcare waste management, which heavily relies on waste handlers, it is essential to improve personal protective equipment, vaccinations, colour-coded containers, and a supply of disinfectants/soap to prevent infections. Hospital administrators must receive training on the importance of these logistics to streamline the work of waste handlers and promote public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2938940a430842dfbceba07e8d35eb7b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2938940a430842dfbceba07e8d35eb7b2025-08-20T03:10:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125111510.1186/s12889-025-21874-6Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative studyMichael Affordofe0Emilia A. Udofia1Enoch Akyeampong2Francis Ofosu Koranteng3Prudence Tettey4Paul K. Botwe5Theresah Andoh6Elijah Kwasi Peprah7Hope Yaw Attah8Philip Tabong9Godfred Boateng10Reginald Quansah11Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of GhanaDepartment of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health SciencesDepartment of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Accra School of HygieneDepartment of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of GhanaDepartment of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of GhanaDepartment of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of GhanaDepartment of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Accra School of HygieneDepartment of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Accra School of HygieneDepartment of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Accra School of HygieneDepartment of Social & Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of GhanaDahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York UniversityDepartment of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of GhanaAbstract Background Despite Ghana's healthcare waste management guidelines, improper solid waste management remains a public health concern. This study sought to assess the knowledge, and practices of waste handlers involved in solid healthcare waste management in selected health facilities in Accra, Ghana. Methods This study employed a descriptive phenomenology study design. All 31 waste handlers from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Tema General Hospital, and Shai-Osudoku Hospital participated in this study. We employed a focus group discussion guide, transcribed the audio-recorded interviews, and then uploaded the data into NVivo 14 software for coding. We synthesized the output into themes, sub-themes, and verbatim quotes to support the sub-themes. Results The waste handlers were able to describe the different types of healthcare waste, but they were unable to label the colour codes according to the national colours used to identify the waste as hazardous or non-hazardous. In many cases, there was no attempt at managing infectious and sharp wastes, which resulted in needle pricks, falls, or even injuries due to poor transport systems. Most of the waste handlers lacked infection-fighting vaccinations. Conclusions For effective healthcare waste management, which heavily relies on waste handlers, it is essential to improve personal protective equipment, vaccinations, colour-coded containers, and a supply of disinfectants/soap to prevent infections. Hospital administrators must receive training on the importance of these logistics to streamline the work of waste handlers and promote public health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21874-6Solid healthcare wasteWaste handlersMedical waste handlersKnowledge and practices |
| spellingShingle | Michael Affordofe Emilia A. Udofia Enoch Akyeampong Francis Ofosu Koranteng Prudence Tettey Paul K. Botwe Theresah Andoh Elijah Kwasi Peprah Hope Yaw Attah Philip Tabong Godfred Boateng Reginald Quansah Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative study BMC Public Health Solid healthcare waste Waste handlers Medical waste handlers Knowledge and practices |
| title | Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in Southern Ghana: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | knowledge and practice of solid healthcare waste management among waste handlers in hospitals in southern ghana a qualitative study |
| topic | Solid healthcare waste Waste handlers Medical waste handlers Knowledge and practices |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21874-6 |
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