KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF NURSES ON THE SEGREGATION OF HOSPITAL WASTE: CASE OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL KRIBI AND EBOME HOSPITAL

Dr. Lukong Hubert Shalanyuy*, Njiomene Matuedem Vanina Luz and Dr. Tanlaka Lucas Mengnjo

ABSTRACT

Background: Hospital waste refers to solid, liquid, or gaseous substances generated from healthcare activities, whether related to diagnosed cases or not, and is produced by healthcare facilities. It poses a significant concern to both medical and general communities due to its higher potential for causing infections and injuries compared to other waste types. Globally, healthcare waste presents a serious threat to public health and the environment. It includes waste from services such as vaccinations, diagnosis, treatment, disability support, drug preparation centers, pharmacies, funeral homes, and informal healthcare providers. The objective of the study was to examine nurses’ knowledge on waste segregation, to explore and describe their attitude and practices on compliance with the waste segregation in District hospital of Kribi and Ebome hospital. Methods: A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of 56 freely consented nurses on the segregation of hospital waste in the Kribi and Ebome hospital, who were sampled using the convenience sampling technique. Data was collected using a well-structured questionnaire divided into 4 sections, depending on the specific objectives of the study. Inferential statistics was computed using the chi square test. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21, and significance was considered at p<0.05. Results: A total of 56 nurses participated in the study, with a majority being female (80.4%) and the dominant age group between 26–30 years. Most held a Bachelor’s degree and had over 10 years of professional experience. The study found that 57.1% of participants had good knowledge about hospital waste segregation, though only 19.6% were aware of the WHO color-coded bin system, and just over one-third had formal training in medical waste handling. Regarding attitude, 44.6% exhibited a good attitude towards waste segregation, with many acknowledging the importance of sharps safety, colour codes, and post-exposure prophylaxis, though some saw reporting injuries as a burden. In practice, only 42.9% demonstrated good segregation practices, with high adherence to sorting and protective measures, but low awareness of post-disposal waste outcomes. A significant association was found between nurses’ service ward and knowledge (p=0.032) and between education level and practice (p=0.032), while other socio-demographic factors showed no significant impact. Conclusion: In conclusion, while 57.1% of nurses had good knowledge on hospital waste segregation, 55.4% showed poor attitudes, and only 42.9% demonstrated satisfactory practices at Kribi and Ebome hospitals. It is recommended that targeted training and regular sensitization be implemented to improve attitudes and practices among nurses.

Keywords: Knowledge, attitude; practice, nurses, segregation; hospital waste.