Waste management in hospitals affiliated to the Iran University of Medical Sciences

The environmental pollution and the waste material disposal in health care centers need special attention. This study was carried out to evaluate waste management in hospitals affiliated to the Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran.

This was a cross-sectional study. The study population included all hospitals affiliated to the Iran University of Medical Sciences. Interview and observation methods were used to collect data, and the study tool was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by the SPSS, using chi-square and t-tests.

Regarding the condition of anatomic waste, 75% of the hospitals were in a good condition. The situation was the same with nuclear waste materials (42% of hospitals). The trashcans were in a good condition in 50% of the rooms, corridors and other parts of the hospitals. Infectious waste was separated in 50% of wards and kept in special sacks in 42% of wards. 44% of the wards were equipped with trolleys to carry waste material, but 78% of these were not in a good condition. The frequency of gathering waste materials was adequate in 74% of hospitals. In spite of having multiple floors, these hospitals did not have garbage chutes or special elevators for carrying waste. 78% of these hospitals did not have incineration facilities. Disposal of sharp cutting materials was done in an acceptable manner in 70% of hospitals.

The management has to provide a solution for the waste problem. Hospital administrators should take care of all aspects of the process. Unfortunately, the results have shown that the waste management process (generation, transportation, temporary storage and disposal) was not on an appropriate level.