EVALUATION OF SOLID WASTE GENERATION RATE; MANAGEMENT IN CASE OF JIMMA MEDICAL CENTER, JIMMA.

Abstract

In any solid waste management study information on solid waste characteristics and rate of generation is essential. In Jimma Medical Center, the effects of healthcare waste on the community and the environment were high. The general purpose of this study was to evaluate solid healthcare waste generation rate and management system in Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia. The study was conducted using Field observation, Questionnaire, and interview methods. The sample size was determined using both stratified and simple random sampling techniques with 95% confidence interval. To get reliable data 243 beds were randomly selected from the study area. A structured questionnaire was used to collect real information or data on the management of Jimma Medical Center and daily traits. The solid waste of each ward (department) was collected, sorted and weighted for 15 consecutive days for compositional and generation rate analysis. The data were analyzed using Microsoft excel 2010 and SPSS version 20. According to the data analysis, the composition of the waste was found high in food waste (61%), plastics (19.5%), textiles (9.7%), and others (7.3%); the mean hospital waste generation rate was 1.66kg/day/patient of which 0.98Kg/day/patient (59.3%) was general waste and 0.68kg/day/patient (40.7%) was hazardous waste, of which (11.7%) Pathological, (8.4%) Pharmaceutical, (15.2%) Infectious, (5.4%) sharp wastes and General Waste (59.3%).Non hazardous waste (59.3%) and Hazardous Waste (40.7%). The average Bulk density of Jimma Medical Center was 820 kg/m3. The correlation analysis clearly showed that the generation rate positively correlated to the different the management systems. Finally, the HCW generation rate was high but its management very poor. Lack of accessible guideline, waste management utility, adequate training, financial constraint, and poor managerial supports were identified as the main challenges. There should be sufficient resource allocation, periodic training, and strict supervision by the stakeholders.