Medical care activities can produce various types of risks (hazardous)
wastes. Poor management of these wastes can lead to environmental pollution and
health risks to healthcare personnel, patients, and the community at large. Adequate
knowledge, attitudes, and practices of managing medical waste are vital. This paper
reviews the main issues in medical waste management by healthcare workers in
developing countries. Results from reviewed literature showed that in developing
countries, Medical waste management is inefficient. Knowledge and awareness
concerning safe medical waste management are inadequate as a result of lack of or
absence of training for medical waste management personnel, absence of waste
management and disposal systems, lack of safety equipment and immunization in most
of the health centers. This paper concludes by recommending ways by which poor
medical waste management can be ameliorated in healthcare centers.
Keywords: Attitudes, Awareness, Healthcare, Healthcare waste workers,
Hospital, Knowledge of Medical waste.
