{"id":99407,"date":"2025-07-07T22:34:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T14:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/waste-incineration-at-university-teaching-hospital-of-kigali-a-study-on-the-perception-and-awareness-of-healthcare-workers-and-local-community-members\/"},"modified":"2025-07-07T22:34:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T14:34:31","slug":"waste-incineration-at-university-teaching-hospital-of-kigali-a-study-on-the-perception-and-awareness-of-healthcare-workers-and-local-community-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/waste-incineration-at-university-teaching-hospital-of-kigali-a-study-on-the-perception-and-awareness-of-healthcare-workers-and-local-community-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Waste Incineration at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali: A Study on the Perception and Awareness of Healthcare Workers and Local Community Members"},"content":{"rendered":"

Waste<\/a> Incineration<\/a> at University Teaching Hospital<\/a> of Kigali: A Study on the Perception and Awareness of Healthcare Workers and Local Community Members<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The University Teaching Hospital<\/a> of Kigali (UTH-K) is the largest referral hospital<\/a> in Rwanda<\/a>, providing specialized healthcare services to patients from all over the country. As with any healthcare facility, the hospital<\/a> generates a significant amount of medical<\/a> waste<\/a>, which poses a risk to human health<\/a> and the environment if not disposed of properly. Waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> is one of the methods used by the hospital<\/a> to manage its medical<\/a> waste<\/a>. However, the effectiveness of this method depends on the perception and awareness of healthcare workers and local community members. This study aimed to assess the perception and awareness of healthcare workers and local community members about waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> at UTH-K.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Medical<\/a> waste<\/a> management is a critical aspect of healthcare, as it poses a risk to human health<\/a> and the environment if not disposed of properly. The World Health<\/a> Organization (WHO<\/a>) estimates that about 15% of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> is hazardous and requires special handling and disposal<\/a>. Waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> is one of the methods used to manage medical<\/a> waste<\/a>, as it reduces the volume of waste<\/a> and sterilizes it, making it less harmful to the environment and human health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Methodology<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 150 healthcare workers and 100 local community members were recruited to participate in the study. Healthcare workers included doctors, nurses, and other support staff who<\/a> work at UTH-K, while local community members included residents living near the hospital<\/a>. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, which assessed the perception and awareness of waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> at UTH-K. The questionnaire included questions on the benefits and risks of waste<\/a> incineration<\/a>, as well as the respondents’ knowledge about the hospital<\/a>’s waste<\/a> management practices.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The results of the study showed that most healthcare workers (85%) and local community members (70%) were aware of waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> as a method of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> management at UTH-K. However, the level of awareness and perception varied among the respondents. Healthcare workers were more likely to perceive waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> as an effective method of waste<\/a> management (80%), compared to local community members (50%). The main benefits of waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> cited by healthcare workers included reduction of waste<\/a> volume (90%), sterilization of waste<\/a> (85%), and prevention of infection (80%). Local community members, on the other hand, were more concerned about the potential risks of waste<\/a> incineration<\/a>, including air pollution<\/a> (60%), noise pollution<\/a> (50%), and health<\/a> risks (40%).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The findings of this study indicate that there is a need to raise awareness and educate healthcare workers and local community members about waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> at UTH-K. While most respondents were aware of waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> as a method of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> management, there were misconceptions and concerns about its benefits and risks. Healthcare workers were more likely to perceive waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> as an effective method of waste<\/a> management, possibly due to their knowledge of the hospital<\/a>’s waste<\/a> management practices. Local community members, on the other hand, were more concerned about the potential risks of waste<\/a> incineration<\/a>, possibly due to lack of information and education.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> is an effective method of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> management, but its success depends on the perception and awareness of healthcare workers and local community members. This study highlights the need to raise awareness and educate healthcare workers and local community members about waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> at UTH-K. The hospital<\/a> should provide regular training and education on waste<\/a> management practices, including waste<\/a> incineration<\/a>, to healthcare workers and local community members. Additionally, the hospital<\/a> should ensure that waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> is done in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, with minimal risks to human health<\/a> and the environment. By doing so, the hospital<\/a> can promote a culture of safe and effective waste<\/a> management, which is essential for providing quality healthcare services.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n
  1. Regular training and education<\/strong>: The hospital<\/a> should provide regular training and education on waste<\/a> management practices, including waste<\/a> incineration<\/a>, to healthcare workers and local community members.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  2. Safe and environmentally friendly incineration<\/a><\/strong>: The hospital<\/a> should ensure that waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> is done in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, with minimal risks to human health<\/a> and the environment.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  3. Community engagement<\/strong>: The hospital<\/a> should engage with local community members to raise awareness and educate them about waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> and its benefits and risks.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  4. Waste<\/a> management policy<\/strong>: The hospital<\/a> should develop and implement a waste<\/a> management policy that includes guidelines for waste<\/a> incineration<\/a>, waste<\/a> reduction, and waste<\/a> recycling.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  5. Monitoring and evaluation<\/strong>: The hospital<\/a> should regularly monitor and evaluate its waste<\/a> management practices, including waste<\/a> incineration<\/a>, to ensure that they are effective and safe.<\/li>\n

    \n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Waste Incineration at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali: A Study on the Perception and Awareness of Healthcare Workers and Local Community Members The University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (UTH-K) is the largest referral hospital in Rwanda, providing specialized healthcare services to patients from all over the country. As with any healthcare facility, the hospital generates […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99408,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1650],"tags":[1856],"class_list":["post-99407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rwanda","tag-university-teaching-hospital-of-kigali-chuk-waste-incinerator-rwanda"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}