Type | Journal Article - Acta Velit |
Title | The Challenge of Medical Waste Management: A Case Study in Alborz Province, Iran |
Author(s) | |
Volume | 1 |
Issue | 3 |
Publication (Day/Month/Year) | 2015 |
Page numbers | 70-79 |
URL | http://www.actavelit.com/issues/volume1/issue3/FINAL 10.pdf |
Abstract | In developing countries such as Iran, medical wastes are not properly managed. Appropriate medical waste management decreases the risk of spreading infections, environmental hazards and public health risks. In recent years, environmental regulatory agencies and waste producers have tried to reach appropriate medical waste management plans. In this study, different aspects of the current status of medical waste management such as generation, segregation and collection, storage, treatment, training and education and sewage were investigated in Alborz province. Standard questionnaire based on World Health Organization applied for gathering information. Questionnaire consisted of seven sections, such as general information of hospital, waste generation, separation, collection, temporary storage location, waste management workshop for workers and personnel and sewage status of hospitals. Medical waste management in Alborz province were compared with enacted law in Iran and other similar studies. The results showed that the average occupancy percentage of each bed in Alborz province hospitals was 76.78%.The average generation rate of total waste was 4.05 kg/ bed-day. The generation rates of hazardous-infectious wastes, general wastes and sharp wastes were 2.26, 1.72 and 0.016 kg/bed-day, respectively. All hospitals had a location for their waste temporary storage and most of those (78.5%) treated their wastes, especially with autoclaving. In compare with enacted law and other studies, the current system of medical waste management in Alborz province is in a proper situation but it needs further improvement. |
» | Iran, Islamic Rep. - Population and Housing Census 2011 |