ASSESS KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE REGARDING BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG HEALTH PERSONNEL

Abstract

Biomedical waste is defined as waste generated during the diagnosis, testing, treatment, research, or growth of biological products for humans. Syringes, live vaccines, lab samples, body parts, bodily fluids, sharp needles and cultures.In 2010, 33800 new HIV infections, 1.7 million hepatitis B infections, and 315000 hepatitis C infections were caused by wrong injections. Present study is conceptualized on the basis of Rosenstoch’s (1974) and Backer and Maimam’s Health Belief Model. The study's objectives were to assess knowledge and practice in biomedical waste management, determine the correlation between knowledge and practice in biomedical waste management among health professionals, determine the association between biomedical waste management of knowledge and selected demographical variables, and determine the association between biomedical waste management of practices and selected demographical variables. A quantitative research approach was adopted to conduct this study and the design used was Descriptive research, to assess the knowledge and practice regarding biomedical waste management among health personnel at selected primary health center at Waghodia taluka. The Non probability convenient sampling technique was used to select 100 health personnel. Health personnel who were available at the time of data collection and who were having experience less than one year were excluded from the study. Overall result shows that there is a positive relationship between knowledge and practice checked by Karl Pearson’s correlation. The computed 'r' value is +0.241 shows the positive correlation between knowledge and practice. Hence it is proved that Health Personnel who had adequate knowledge follows the satisfied level of practice. Further Findings revealed that marital status is found associated with knowledge. Result shows that there is association between practice and selected demographic variables such as marital status and occupation. Conclusion: Majority of health personnel have average level of knowledge, but none of them having average level of practice.