KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF NURSING STAFFS ABOUT MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRES IN ERBIL CITY, IRAQ

Abstract

Knowledge and attitude of nursing staffs about medical waste management show an essential role to decrease contagious diseases. This study aims to assess knowledge and attitude of nursing staffs about medical waste management in primary health care canters. Quantitative design, descriptive study was conducted in 23 primary health care canters in Erbil /City in the Kurdistan region of Iraq from September 2014 to August 2015. All nursing staffs were selected. Data were collected through the use of interview questionnaire forms. Results showed that majority of the nursing staffs’ age were between 40-49 years old, female, Secondary school nurses, most of them had 20-29 years of experience, working unit, most of them were minor surgery nurses and did not have training courses about medical waste management. The study showed that most of the nursing staffs had a medium level of knowledge about medical waste management. The study also showed that the majority of nursing staffs had high (positive) attitude regarding medical waste management. There was statistically significant association between level of education and nurses’ knowledge about medical waste management. Conducting training courses about medical waste management are necessary for all nursing staffs and preparation of educational programs to be implemented for developed knowledge and attitude of nursing staffs about medical waste management.