Perceived Environmental Health Effects of Clinical Waste Disposal in Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the perceived health effects of clinical waste disposal in Adoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria on people. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed for the collection of the data set comprising a sample size of 184 respondents selected from health/medical personnel, cleaners in health facilities, waste handlers, nurses, midwives, and doctors through structured questionnaires including basic statistical techniques using a criterion of 2.50 on the 4-point Likert scale. The result of the various analyses conducted revealed that the major types of waste generated from hospitals and medical facilities are needles, syringes scalpels, blades, and lancets, including placentas and other human tissues as well as papers, plastics, and glasses. The analysis from the returned questionnaires further indicates that the main methods of clinical waste disposal and treatment of used medical instruments/tools (autoclaving) include open burning of clinical wastes such as paper, plastic, cans, etc. The implications of the observed poor and inappropriate disposal of clinical waste in the study area include a high risk of infection among health/medical personnel and the spread of communicable diseases in the neighborhood. Given the depth of the analysis and the results generated, the study recommends the deployment of more qualified medical and para-medical personnel to the local government health facilities and the provision of modern equipment to tackle the rising cases of infectious diseases and community health associated with improper clinical waste disposal in the study area.