Management of biomedical wastes in two hospitals in Mahajanga-Madagascar

Abstract

Hospital and biomedical waste represented a health and environmental problem. Thus, a study was carried out at two hospitals, ZAFISAONA Gabriel University Hospital Center and JEAN PAUL-2 Hospital in Mahajanga, to describe the management of biomedical waste in order to formulate recommendations. Surveys were carried out among agents working in hospitals to assess the typology of waste, method of treatment and elimination, risks and accidents. Of the 100 distributed questionnaires, 88 responses were obtained, representing a response rate of 88% for the 75 questioned agents. Concerning the management of BMW and observations at the level of 41 services, sharps waste and blood and fluid waste were found in all services, except at pharmacies. During the investigation, pharmaceutical waste was found in 35 departments, infectious waste in 33 departments and anatomical waste in 12 departments. Working conditions were considered poor by 84%, personal protective equipment available in 85.3% of services, knowledge of BMW management was considered insufficient by 86.4% of questioned people and the health risks linked to BMW were known by 82%. A training strategy and staff awareness are priority areas for developing the quality of biomedical waste management in these hospitals.