Biomedical waste (BMW) refers to any solid or liquid waste, including its packaging and by-products, generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals. Poor and inappropriate management of healthcare waste poses significant health risks and can cause substantial environmental damage. Given the enduring importance of BMW management, this study aims to assess healthcare workers (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding BMW management (BMWM) at various levels of hospitals and diagnostic services. This cross-sectional study included 163 participants and was carried out from April 2024 to June 2024 in the Nalgonda and Warangal districts of Telangana state, India. The findings revealed that a significant proportion of doctors (87.7%) and nurses (80%) demonstrated good to excellent knowledge of BMWM, whereas only 66.6% of other HCWs reached similar levels. A strong positive attitude toward BMWM was observed among 96.3% of participants. In terms of practices, 63.4% of doctors, 72% of nurses, and 76.3% of other HCWs exhibited excellent adherence to BMWM practices. The study also found knowledge regarding BMWM disparities based on workplace location. These findings provide critical insights for hospital executives, policymakers, and public health professionals to devise specialized training and awareness schemes to strengthen BMWM practices.
Suram et al. (Wed,) studied this question.