AWARENESS ABOUT BLOOD BORNE VIRAL INFECTIONS (HIV, HBV AND HCV) IN BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT WORKERS OF AN URBAN CITY

Abstract

Background: WHO defines ‘Biomedical Waste Management (BMW)’ as any waste generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals. In India, around 1.5-2 kg waste is generated per bed per day in hospitals and annually 0.23 million tons of BMW. If proper disposal of BMW is not done then all wastes generated from hospital gets contaminated and become infectious. BMW Management workers are at maximum risk of exposure to blood and body fluids from patients through needle stick injuries, a cut by sharp instrument, a bite that penetrates the skin and contamination of mucous membrane (Ex. A splash of blood in eye). For safe and sustainable management of BMW, knowledge of risk and good practices should be there in these workers. Therefore, the following study is being conducted.

Methods: It is a cross-sectional type of descriptive study with sample size of about 150 conducted at tertiary care centers of an urban city and biomedical waste management plants. Questionnaire and interview based study. Approval was taken from Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC).Permission to conduct the research was obtained from appropriate authorities. Study participants were recruited from various hospitals of the urban cities and biomedical waste management plants. Voluntary consent was taken.

Results: Overall result:

Knowledge: Overall percentage of knowledge about blood borne viral infections is only 67.1%.

Overall percent about knowledge regarding BMW management is just 50.5%.

Attitude: Overall result of attitudes among BMW management workers is 72.7%.

Practice: Overall result about precautions taken to prevent infections is 72.5% and regarding management of BMW is 77.9%.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that knowledge about blood borne viral infections is lacking among class IV workers, reason for this can education barrier. Attitudes of participants are good and whatever lacking would fill up when they get adequate knowledge. Practices about BMW management should be continuously under check.

Keywords: BMW