Impact of Training of Health Workers on Pharmaceutical Wastes Management in Lagos State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Impact of Training of Health Workers on Pharmaceutical Wastes Management in Lagos State, Nigeria

Afusat Adesina¹, Sanni O. Felix²

¹Howard University Global Initiative Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria
²Department of Global Health-WABCS, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria

Abstract-The properties that make pharmaceuticals useful are probably the same properties that make them hazardous. Training for the proper and safe management of healthcare waste, including pharmaceutical and cytostatic waste in hospitals is of great importance for dealing properly with these types of hazardous healthcare waste. This training has to be in accordance with the legal frame¬work and good practice guidelines on PWM. The major objective of this study is to assess the level of training received by health workers in Lagos State, Nigeria on pharmaceutical waste management. Majority of the respondents in this study were females, 68.4%. Over 42% of the respondents were seen in the most frequent age group of 31 – 40 years. Over 30% of the respondents work in general hospitals, 46.5% of respondents from the pharmacy unit and 43.4% of the respondents have been in service between 1 – 5 years. The highest level of PWM training was seen among the staff of comprehensive health centers, 36.7% while general hospitals and specialist hospitals recorded the least values of 28.6% and 13.5% respectively. It was discovered that nursing unit recorded the highest level of training with 32.9% followed by medical with 27.4%, pharmacy and environmental were in the third and fourth positions with 26.3% and 26.1% respectively while the laboratory department recorded 25%. It is therefore concluded that that intervention is needed both in the part of institutional management and government to embark on regular training of health workers across all health institutions in Lagos State.

Keywords: Medical waste, training, Healthcare workers, Environmental, hazards, Pharmaceutical Wastes

I. INTRODUCTION

Pollution from pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is now recognized as an environmental concern in many countries. This instigated researches on the chemical, identification, and quantification of pharmaceuticals; assessment of their transformation pathways in wastewater treatment plants or in other parts of the environment; evaluation of theirpossible biological activities; and formulation and the uses of advanced treatment processes for their removal [1]. Due to their special behavior that cannot be compared to other organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals are considered aspecial type of pollutants. Over the last decade, the scientific community has embraced research in this specific field and the outcome has been immense [1].

Read More