Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the management, characteristics and generation of healthcare waste (HCW) in public and private hospitals in Kampala City, Uganda. Methods: We employed mainly qualitative methods through the use of a waste inventory, observations, document review and key informant interviews. The HCW inventory was done to determine the rate of generation of infectious waste and general waste in one public and one private hospital. Observations using an observation checklist were done to establish HCW management practices in three hospitals. Results: The average generation rate for infectious waste from Nsambya hospital (private hospital) was 0.23 kg/patient/day as compared to 0.25 kg/patient/day for Mulago (public hospital). Generation is influenced by type and state of sickness/ condition, the level or seriousness of the sickness, the number of people nursing the patient, the visitation rate/number of people visiting a patient and the items they carry to the ward. These factors can be used by health facility managers to minimize the quantities of healthcare waste generated. Conclusion: The study found no evidence that either public or private ownership is a decisive factor for the successful management of healthcare waste. However, contracting of healthcarewaste management services to a private party as was seen in the public hospital had resulted in improved services and this strategy should also be tried in private hospitals.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 245-251 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Public Health (Germany) |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2012 |
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Keywords
- Hazardous waste
- Healthcare waste
- Hospital waste
- Infectious waste
- Medical waste
- Waste
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Healthcare waste management in Uganda : Management and generation rates in public and private hospitals in Kampala. / Mugambe, Richard Kibirango; Ssempebwa, John C.; Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona; Van Vliet, Bas; Adedimeji, Adebola A.
In: Journal of Public Health (Germany), Vol. 20, No. 3, 06.2012, p. 245-251.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Healthcare waste management in Uganda
T2 - Management and generation rates in public and private hospitals in Kampala
AU - Mugambe, Richard Kibirango
AU - Ssempebwa, John C.
AU - Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona
AU - Van Vliet, Bas
AU - Adedimeji, Adebola A.
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the management, characteristics and generation of healthcare waste (HCW) in public and private hospitals in Kampala City, Uganda. Methods: We employed mainly qualitative methods through the use of a waste inventory, observations, document review and key informant interviews. The HCW inventory was done to determine the rate of generation of infectious waste and general waste in one public and one private hospital. Observations using an observation checklist were done to establish HCW management practices in three hospitals. Results: The average generation rate for infectious waste from Nsambya hospital (private hospital) was 0.23 kg/patient/day as compared to 0.25 kg/patient/day for Mulago (public hospital). Generation is influenced by type and state of sickness/ condition, the level or seriousness of the sickness, the number of people nursing the patient, the visitation rate/number of people visiting a patient and the items they carry to the ward. These factors can be used by health facility managers to minimize the quantities of healthcare waste generated. Conclusion: The study found no evidence that either public or private ownership is a decisive factor for the successful management of healthcare waste. However, contracting of healthcarewaste management services to a private party as was seen in the public hospital had resulted in improved services and this strategy should also be tried in private hospitals.
AB - Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the management, characteristics and generation of healthcare waste (HCW) in public and private hospitals in Kampala City, Uganda. Methods: We employed mainly qualitative methods through the use of a waste inventory, observations, document review and key informant interviews. The HCW inventory was done to determine the rate of generation of infectious waste and general waste in one public and one private hospital. Observations using an observation checklist were done to establish HCW management practices in three hospitals. Results: The average generation rate for infectious waste from Nsambya hospital (private hospital) was 0.23 kg/patient/day as compared to 0.25 kg/patient/day for Mulago (public hospital). Generation is influenced by type and state of sickness/ condition, the level or seriousness of the sickness, the number of people nursing the patient, the visitation rate/number of people visiting a patient and the items they carry to the ward. These factors can be used by health facility managers to minimize the quantities of healthcare waste generated. Conclusion: The study found no evidence that either public or private ownership is a decisive factor for the successful management of healthcare waste. However, contracting of healthcarewaste management services to a private party as was seen in the public hospital had resulted in improved services and this strategy should also be tried in private hospitals.
KW - Hazardous waste
KW - Healthcare waste
KW - Hospital waste
KW - Infectious waste
KW - Medical waste
KW - Waste
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863463873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84863463873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10389-011-0459-6
DO - 10.1007/s10389-011-0459-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84863463873
VL - 20
SP - 245
EP - 251
JO - Zeitschrift fur Gesundheitswissenschaften
JF - Zeitschrift fur Gesundheitswissenschaften
SN - 0943-1853
IS - 3
ER -