Title: TO STUDY THE AWARENESS OF HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN BIO - MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NEW GOVERNMENT GENERAL HOSPITAL AT VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH
Abstract: BACKGROUND:The recent developments in healthcare units are precisely made for the prevention and protection of community health.Sophisticated instruments have come into existence in various operations for disease treatment.Such improvement and advances in scientific knowledge has resulted in per capita per patient generation of wastes in health care units.Waste generated in the process of health care are composed of variety of wastes including hypodermic needles, scalpels, blades, surgical cotton, gloves, bandages, discarded medicine, body fluids, human tissues and organs, chemicals etc., other wastes generated in healthcare settings include radioactive wastes, mercury containing instruments, PVC plastics etc., so the awareness of personnel involved in the management of biomedical waste is important.AIM: To assess the waste handling and treatment system of hospital bio-medical solid waste and its mandatory compliance with regulatory notifications for biomedical waste (BMW) management rules 1998, under Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India at Government General Hospital (GGH), Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This cross sectional study was conducted in GGH at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.MATERIAL AND METHODS: 75 study subjects selected were personnel involved in management of hospital solid waste observed for one month and frequency tables, percentages, and proportions were used as statistical applications.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Analysis was done using MS -Excel software.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Out of gross total quantity of BMW generated in entire GGH, Vijayawada 74% of it is general waste.Knowledge levels regarding storage of BMW was more among class IV employees, were as awareness in differentiation of infectious and non-infectious waste was more among staff nurses.