EXISTING KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND PRACTICES REGARDING BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS WITH ITS EFFECT AT RANI DURGAVATI MEDICAL COLLEGE BANDA (UP) INDIA

The Central Government framed certain rules to protect the Environment, namely Bio-Medical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules, 2016, and (Amendment) Rules, 2018. These were an update and simplification of prior existing rules not only for human health and also for safety of environment for the current and future generations. Effective BMWM is not only a legal necessity but also a social responsibility. Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility (CBWTF) is a set up where biomedical waste generated from member health care facilities has imparted necessary treatment to reduce adverse effects that this waste may pose on human health and environment. The study was conducted to assess / judge existing knowledge, awareness and practices regarding BMWM among Health care workers at Rani Durgavati Medical College Banda, India. A pre-tested questionnaire based on cross-sectional survey was circulated among various Health care workers / Participants using the questionnaire of BMWM for health care workers of 400 bedded tertiary care teaching Hospital Rani Durgavati Medical College. This questionnaire was distributed among 146 participants/HCWs over a period of one month i.e. from 11^th January to 15^th February, 2021.

Each questionnaire was composed of four sections/tables:

1.      Section A / Table-1 comprised of demographic profile of the subjects

2.      Section B / Table-2 comprised of questions to test the Knowledge / Awareness

3.      Section C / Table-3 was about the Attitudes and

4.      Section D / Table-4 about the practices of BMWM.

The study showed that:

1.      The participants scored high on attitude and knowledge about the waste management practices while their scores on the implementation part were comparatively low.

2.      There was a significant difference in relation to educational qualification of respondent in knowledge and practice score.

3.      Rani Durgavati Medical College / GAMC Banda lead yearly in proper segregation, treatment and disposal. Our treatment of BMWM increased as gross generation of BMWM decreased significantly in the years2020 and 2021.