DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i02.044

Pages: 526-530

Hospital waste management is a burning issue and needs to be address on day to day basis. The aim is to assess the knowledge and awareness about various aspects of Bio-Medical Waste Management among interns and nursing staff working in a private hospital. 100 participants were interviewed with validated preformed, semi structure proforma. We found out that entire 100% were aware about Bio-Medical Waste; only 45% has received the training for biomedical waste management. 72% had the knowledge that regular biomedical waste record was maintained in their hospital and 93% population had the knowledge that proper segregation of biomedical waste products is done at their hospital. 60% had the knowledge about the health hazards associated with biomedical waste (HIV, Hepatitis, Needle stick injuries, Blood-borne diseases etc.). And 97% have the knowledge about the personal protective measures while handling biomedical waste products. However, only 73% population disposes sharps/needles using needle cutter, 5% disposes without needle cutter and 22% population disposes with needle covered with cap. Hence from the above data, it’s evident that if the interns or nursing staff were to be duly trained for biomedical waste management and disposal through regular training sessions or by picturesque methods then, there would be significant drop in the amount of health hazards associated with biomedical waste products. The study is first of its kind since testing the knowledge of biomedical waste of Intern doctors & nursing staff in a private & municipal hospital was never done before.