Healthcare Waste Management Practices of Private Hospitals in the First District of Ilocos Sur

Healthcare waste generated by hospitals poses significant environmental and public health risks when not properly managed. Effective healthcare waste management systems are therefore essential to ensure safe handling, treatment, and disposal of hazardous materials. This study assessed the level of healthcare waste management practices of private hospitals in the first district of Ilocos Sur and examined their relationship with selected personal-related factors, hospital-related characteristics, and institutional healthcare waste management–related factors. A descriptive quantitative research design was employed involving 160 respondents composed of management personnel or Pollution Control Officers, medical staff, and utility workers from eleven private hospitals. Data were collected using a structured survey questionnaire and institutional records. Statistical tools used in the analysis included frequency and percentage distributions, weighted means, and correlation analysis. Findings showed that healthcare waste management practices were implemented at a high level (grand mean = 3.83). Waste segregation obtained the highest rating (mean = 3.88), while waste minimization recorded the lowest rating among practice areas (mean = 3.66). Personal-related factors showed no significant relationship with overall waste management practices. In contrast, hospital-related characteristics—particularly level classification (r = .91), total waste generated (r = .89), and bed capacity (r = .86)—demonstrated strong positive relationships with implementation. Institutional factors such as guidelines, supervision, budget allocation, and waste management utilities also showed strong associations with effective practices. The findings highlight the critical role of organizational systems, institutional capacity, and operational resources in strengthening healthcare waste management in private hospitals. Effective policies, adequate funding, trained personnel, and sufficient waste management utilities collectively support the consistent implementation of safe and compliant waste handling practices.