Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria

Agatha Aballa Nkechi; Oluka Ike Sylvester

doi:doi:10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22

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Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria

Agatha Aballa Nkechi^*, Oluka Ike Sylvester

Published in World Journal of Public Health (Volume 10, Issue 4)

Received: 25 September 2025 Accepted: 14 October 2025 Published: 9 December 2025

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Abstract

The alarming rate at which healthcare wastes are produced in healthcare setting has become a great source of concern due to the dangers associated with them. This research investigated the practical ways of managing biomedical wastes produced by the healthcare departments of Federal university of Allied health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE). This study established common practices used in managing healthcare wastes in the university, the types of biomedical wastes generated within healthcare departments, assessed their compliance to standard regulations, ascertained how the healthcare care workers manage the wastes generated, identified barriers the healthcare departments face in implementing regulation and identified strategies for improving practices within the departments. The Health Belief Model theory which helps to explain the knowledge, attitude and respondents’ behaviors, the planned behavior theory which examined the effects of the respondents’ attitude on their practices, environmental management theory and Systems theory which examined how the interdependent units within the university interact to influence the effectiveness of practice in the university formed the theoretical basis of the study. Sixty-five respondents were chosen randomly with each department treated as a stratum and the respondents were selected within each stratum. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used as instruments for data collection while data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The outcome of the study, indicates that the practices of the healthcare departments regarding healthcare wastes were very poor. The major challenges identified were inadequate training, lack of sufficient resources and equipment, lack of standard regulation enforcement. The study recommended provision of adequate resources and equipment, continuous staff training and improved policies enactment to enhance practices.

Published in	World Journal of Public Health (Volume 10, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22
Page(s)	552-561
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Healthcare Departments, Polices, Practice, Regulations, Questionnaire, Fuahse

References

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[2]	Nazia, M. Zaid, M., Babak, M., (2021). Biomedical waste management practices among healthcare professionals: A case study in District Faisalabad Punjab Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of social Research, 03(04), 535-540. https://doi.org/10.52567/pjsr.v3i4.315
[3]	Aruna, D., Khaiwal, R., Manmeet, K., Rajesh, K., (2019). Evaluation of biomedical waste management practices in public and private sector of healthcare facilities in India. Journal of Environmental Science and pollution research, Volume 26, Pp 26082-26089.
[4]	Afesi- Dei, C. Appiah-Brempong, M., Awuah, E., (2023). Healthcare waste management practices: the case of HO Teaching Hospital in Ghana. PubMed central, Heliyon, 9(4): e15514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15514
[5]	Agyekum, N. K., Ansah, E., W., (2022). Medical waste management practices at healthcare facilities in Cape Coast metropolis. Advanced Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 10, Number 1. https://doi.org/10.21467/ajss.10.163-74
[6]	Ironkwe, O., (2013). Patterns of Healthcare waste management practices among healthcare professionals in South East Nigeria. Texila international journal of Public Health. ISSN: 2520-3134. https://doi.org/10.21522/TIJPH.2013.08.01.Arto40
[7]	Adulla, F., Qdais, H., Rabi, A., (2008). Site investigation on medical waste management practices in Northern Jordan. Volume 28, issue 2, Pp 450-458. https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2007.02.035
[8]	Adede, F., O., Sawyeri, H., O., (2023). Determinants of the choice of biomedical wsaste management methods in tertiary Health facilities in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Volume 5, number 6. ejmed.org
[9]	Shalini, S., Harsh, M., Marthur, B,. P., (2012). Evaluation of Bio-medical waste management practices in a government medical college and hospital. National Journal of community medicine. Volume 3, issue 1, Pp 80-84.
[10]	Davou, D., A., Gbegnide, H., A., Aina, M., P., Ouendo, E., M., (2022). Evaluation of solid biomedical waste management practices in six health facilities in Southern Benin. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 12(02), 144-163. https:/doi.org/10.30574/gscarr.2022.12.2.0223
[11]	Ezeudu, O. B., Ezeudu, T. S., Ugochukwu, U. C., Tenebe, I. T., Ajogu, A. P., Nwadi, U. V., & Ajaero, C. C. (2022). Healthcare Waste Management in Nigeria: A Review [Review of Healthcare Waste Management in Nigeria: A Review]. Recycling, 7(6), 87. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling7060087
[12]	Raji, M. O., & Adeogun, A. G. (2024). Healthcare Waste Management: An Overview. ABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development (AJERD), 7(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.53982/ajerd.2024.0701.02-j
[13]	Affordofe, M., Udofia, E. A., Koranteng, F. O., Tettey, P., Botwe, P. K., Akyeampong, E., Andoh, T., Peprah, E. K., Attah, H. Y., Tabong, P. T.-N., Boateng, G. O., & Quansah, R. (2024). Knowledge and Practice of Solid Healthcare Waste Management Among Waste Handlers in Hospitals in Southern Ghana: A Qualitative Study. Research Square (Research Square). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5140379/v1
[14]	Ibáñez-Cruz, A. J. A., Vergara-Florián, A. M. E., & Algoner, W. C. (2025). Hospital solid waste management strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections from occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and improve occupational safety. Frontiers in Public Health, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1499463
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APA Style

Nkechi, A. A., Sylvester, O. I. (2025). Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria. World Journal of Public Health, 10(4), 552-561. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22

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ACS Style

Nkechi, A. A.; Sylvester, O. I. Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria. World J. Public Health 2025, 10(4), 552-561. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22

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AMA Style

Nkechi AA, Sylvester OI. Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria. World J Public Health. 2025;10(4):552-561. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22

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@article{10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22,
  author = {Agatha Aballa Nkechi and Oluka Ike Sylvester},
  title = {Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria},
  journal = {World Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {10},
  number = {4},
  pages = {552-561},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjph.20251004.22},
  abstract = {The alarming rate at which healthcare wastes are produced in healthcare setting has become a great source of concern due to the dangers associated with them. This research investigated the practical ways of managing biomedical wastes produced by the healthcare departments of Federal university of Allied health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE). This study established common practices used in managing healthcare wastes in the university, the types of biomedical wastes generated within healthcare departments, assessed their compliance to standard regulations, ascertained how the healthcare care workers manage the wastes generated, identified barriers the healthcare departments face in implementing regulation and identified strategies for improving practices within the departments. The Health Belief Model theory which helps to explain the knowledge, attitude and respondents’ behaviors, the planned behavior theory which examined the effects of the respondents’ attitude on their practices, environmental management theory and Systems theory which examined how the interdependent units within the university interact to influence the effectiveness of practice in the university formed the theoretical basis of the study. Sixty-five respondents were chosen randomly with each department treated as a stratum and the respondents were selected within each stratum. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used as instruments for data collection while data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The outcome of the study, indicates that the practices of the healthcare departments regarding healthcare wastes were very poor. The major challenges identified were inadequate training, lack of sufficient resources and equipment, lack of standard regulation enforcement. The study recommended provision of adequate resources and equipment, continuous staff training and improved policies enactment to enhance practices.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria
AU  - Agatha Aballa Nkechi
AU  - Oluka Ike Sylvester
Y1  - 2025/12/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22
T2  - World Journal of Public Health
JF  - World Journal of Public Health
JO  - World Journal of Public Health
SP  - 552
EP  - 561
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-6059
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22
AB  - The alarming rate at which healthcare wastes are produced in healthcare setting has become a great source of concern due to the dangers associated with them. This research investigated the practical ways of managing biomedical wastes produced by the healthcare departments of Federal university of Allied health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE). This study established common practices used in managing healthcare wastes in the university, the types of biomedical wastes generated within healthcare departments, assessed their compliance to standard regulations, ascertained how the healthcare care workers manage the wastes generated, identified barriers the healthcare departments face in implementing regulation and identified strategies for improving practices within the departments. The Health Belief Model theory which helps to explain the knowledge, attitude and respondents’ behaviors, the planned behavior theory which examined the effects of the respondents’ attitude on their practices, environmental management theory and Systems theory which examined how the interdependent units within the university interact to influence the effectiveness of practice in the university formed the theoretical basis of the study. Sixty-five respondents were chosen randomly with each department treated as a stratum and the respondents were selected within each stratum. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used as instruments for data collection while data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The outcome of the study, indicates that the practices of the healthcare departments regarding healthcare wastes were very poor. The major challenges identified were inadequate training, lack of sufficient resources and equipment, lack of standard regulation enforcement. The study recommended provision of adequate resources and equipment, continuous staff training and improved policies enactment to enhance practices.
VL  - 10
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Agatha Aballa Nkechi

Biomedical Engineering Department, Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, Nigeria

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Oluka Ike Sylvester

Agricultural Resource Engineering Department, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria

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APA Style

Nkechi, A. A., Sylvester, O. I. (2025). Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria. World Journal of Public Health, 10(4), 552-561. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22

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ACS Style

Nkechi, A. A.; Sylvester, O. I. Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria. World J. Public Health 2025, 10(4), 552-561. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22

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AMA Style

Nkechi AA, Sylvester OI. Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria. World J Public Health. 2025;10(4):552-561. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22

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@article{10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22,
  author = {Agatha Aballa Nkechi and Oluka Ike Sylvester},
  title = {Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria},
  journal = {World Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {10},
  number = {4},
  pages = {552-561},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjph.20251004.22},
  abstract = {The alarming rate at which healthcare wastes are produced in healthcare setting has become a great source of concern due to the dangers associated with them. This research investigated the practical ways of managing biomedical wastes produced by the healthcare departments of Federal university of Allied health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE). This study established common practices used in managing healthcare wastes in the university, the types of biomedical wastes generated within healthcare departments, assessed their compliance to standard regulations, ascertained how the healthcare care workers manage the wastes generated, identified barriers the healthcare departments face in implementing regulation and identified strategies for improving practices within the departments. The Health Belief Model theory which helps to explain the knowledge, attitude and respondents’ behaviors, the planned behavior theory which examined the effects of the respondents’ attitude on their practices, environmental management theory and Systems theory which examined how the interdependent units within the university interact to influence the effectiveness of practice in the university formed the theoretical basis of the study. Sixty-five respondents were chosen randomly with each department treated as a stratum and the respondents were selected within each stratum. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used as instruments for data collection while data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The outcome of the study, indicates that the practices of the healthcare departments regarding healthcare wastes were very poor. The major challenges identified were inadequate training, lack of sufficient resources and equipment, lack of standard regulation enforcement. The study recommended provision of adequate resources and equipment, continuous staff training and improved policies enactment to enhance practices.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Investigation of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Healthcare Departments of Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE) Nigeria
AU  - Agatha Aballa Nkechi
AU  - Oluka Ike Sylvester
Y1  - 2025/12/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22
T2  - World Journal of Public Health
JF  - World Journal of Public Health
JO  - World Journal of Public Health
SP  - 552
EP  - 561
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-6059
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20251004.22
AB  - The alarming rate at which healthcare wastes are produced in healthcare setting has become a great source of concern due to the dangers associated with them. This research investigated the practical ways of managing biomedical wastes produced by the healthcare departments of Federal university of Allied health Sciences Enugu (FUAHSE). This study established common practices used in managing healthcare wastes in the university, the types of biomedical wastes generated within healthcare departments, assessed their compliance to standard regulations, ascertained how the healthcare care workers manage the wastes generated, identified barriers the healthcare departments face in implementing regulation and identified strategies for improving practices within the departments. The Health Belief Model theory which helps to explain the knowledge, attitude and respondents’ behaviors, the planned behavior theory which examined the effects of the respondents’ attitude on their practices, environmental management theory and Systems theory which examined how the interdependent units within the university interact to influence the effectiveness of practice in the university formed the theoretical basis of the study. Sixty-five respondents were chosen randomly with each department treated as a stratum and the respondents were selected within each stratum. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used as instruments for data collection while data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The outcome of the study, indicates that the practices of the healthcare departments regarding healthcare wastes were very poor. The major challenges identified were inadequate training, lack of sufficient resources and equipment, lack of standard regulation enforcement. The study recommended provision of adequate resources and equipment, continuous staff training and improved policies enactment to enhance practices.
VL  - 10
IS  - 4
ER  -

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