Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health-Care Waste Management and Associated Health Risks in the Two Teaching and Referral Hospitals in Kenya

Hazardous health-care waste poses a great danger to public health and the environment if it is not properly managed. There
is need for health-care workers involved in its management to understand the integral link between human health and environmental
health. This study was done to identify gaps in knowledge, attitude and practice among the healthcare workers involved in
its management hence endangering public health and polluting the environment. A self administered questionnaire was used in
both Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret to clinicians, nurses, laboratory
technologists and hospital attendants to identify the gaps with a focus on their knowledge, attitude and practice. It was
found that health and safety in health-care waste management, was not included in most of the curricula for training the three
healthcare professionals. Most of them acquired this through on-job training from seminars and informally through organized
talks at work-places. The hospital attendants had also an opportunity to acquire the knowledge through organized training
at work places. The training improved the workers’ compliance to hepatitis B vaccinations and use of personal protective equipment
when handling health-care waste. There was also reduction on injuries from health-care waste. This study therefore concludes
that it is necessary for healthcare workers training curricula to include health and safety issues while managing hazardous
health-care waste as well as establishes the need for healthcare institutions to conduct continuing education on health and
safety in the management of health-care waste.