Waste management practices: evaluating the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers in a 120-bed hospital, Mecheria City, Southwestern Algeria

This study investigates the generation and management of healthcare waste at the Chnafa Brothers Public Hospital in Mecheria, located in southwestern Algeria, over a seven-month period. It highlights current practices and identifies critical deficiencies in the hospital's waste management protocols. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected on the production of infectious healthcare waste, emphasizing the hospital's waste management practices. Analysis of waste production data and review of hospital staff practices were conducted to assess compliance with existing waste management protocols. The findings reveal that infectious waste constitutes a significant portion of the hospital's biomedical waste, averaging 34.36 tons annually. A majority of the surveyed staff (94.44%) believe that healthcare waste exposes healthcare personnel to various health risks, with infectious risks being the most significant (95.56%), followed by chemical, biological, and psycho-emotional risks. Although 87.77% of the staff reported that waste collection is regular, 91.11% were unaware of the proper duration for waste storage prior to treatment. Considerable deficiencies were also observed in sorting and collection practices. Furthermore, 90% of the staff believe that healthcare waste is properly sorted, while 4.44% disagree and 5.56% are unsure whether sorting is adequately performed. The hospital primarily relies on incineration to manage healthcare waste, which effectively reduces waste volume but raises environmental concerns due to pollution. Improving waste management practices and increasing staff awareness of the risks and regulations surrounding healthcare waste are crucial for enhancing public health and environmental outcomes.