KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE & PRACTICE OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WORKING IN PHC AT GADAG TALUK KARNATAKA

Background: Biomedical waste (BMW) generated in healthcare settings is hazardous and poses threats to health and environment if not managed appropriately. Mismanagement of biomedical waste can result in spread of infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and C among healthcare workers and the general public. Biomedical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules 2016 have mandated segregation, collection, transportation, and disposal of biomedical waste using color-coded systems to reduce the risks associated with infectious and hazardous waste (CPCB, 2016).[6] Objectives: 1.To assess knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding biomedical waste management among staff working in Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in Gadag Taluka, Karnataka. 2. To observe biomedical waste management practices at PHCs using structured observation checklists. Materials and Methods: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers in 15 PHC’s of Gadag Taluka. A Universal sampling technique was adopted to include doctors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, and Group D staff. Data collection involved a semi-structured questionnaire covering KAP domains and a structured observation checklist. The collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and expressed in frequencies and percentages. Results: Among 214 participants, 80% of doctors and 52.8% of pharmacy staff had good knowledge of BMWM. Group D staff had the lowest knowledge scores, with 26.4% categorized as poor. Adequate practices were observed among 87.6% of doctors, 75.6% of pharmacy staff, and 63.9% of nurses. Group D staff had the highest proportion of inadequate practices (36.8%). Attitudinal assessment revealed that 100% of doctors had good attitudes towards BMWM, followed by 80% of pharmacy staff and 73.3% of lab technicians. Observations revealed significant lapses in segregation, labeling, and use of color-coded bins in many PHCs. Conclusion: The study found that while clinical staff demonstrated high knowledge and positive attitudes towards BMWM, significant deficiencies were observed among nursing and Group D staff. There is a critical need for continuous training, monitoring, and provision of resources to ensure full compliance with BMWM Rules.