Interventions to Manage Household Pharmaceutical Waste in Developing Economies – A Systematic Review

Background: Household pharmaceutical wastes pose significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly in developing economies with limited formal disposal systems. This review evaluated interventions aimed at improving the management of such wastes in resource-limited settings.
Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies were selected using the PICOS framework, focusing on interventional research on household pharmaceutical waste management in developing economies, published in English between January 2015 and July 2025. Searches were conducted in PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, supplemented by citation tracking. After duplicate removal and screening, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist.
Results: Eight studies were included from Malaysia (n=2), Kuwait (n=1), Egypt (n=3), Mangalore, India (n=1), and Nepal (n=1). Most studies (87.5%) implemented clinic-based educational programs, while one employed a take-back campaign. Half applied pretest–posttest designs without control groups. Sample sizes ranged from 100 to 500 participants, including patients with diabetes, community adults, students, and post-operative patients. All studies assessed practice; 62.5% measured knowledge, and 37.5% evaluated attitude. Educational interventions significantly improved knowledge. Practice and attitudinal changes were inconsistent. The multisectoral take-back campaign achieved the most promising improvement in safe disposal practices.
Conclusion: Effective management of household pharmaceutical waste in developing economies requires integrated strategies that combine education with accessible disposal systems. Future research should examine the long-term sustainability and scalability of such interventions across varied contexts.

household pharmaceutical waste, developing economies, interventions, take-back campaign

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