An Evaluation of Staff Engagement with Infectious Healthcare Waste Management Policies: A Case Study of Tunisia

Kaouther Maaroufi, Terry Tudor, Mentore Vaccari, Afef Siala and Ezzeddine Mahmoudi
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Kaouther Maaroufi: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Tunisia
Terry Tudor: Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, The University of Northampton, Waterside Campus, Northampton NN1 5PH, UK
Mentore Vaccari: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and of Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Afef Siala: National Agency for Waste Management, 19 Rue de Jerusalem Street, 2 Tunis 100, Tunisia
Ezzeddine Mahmoudi: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Tunisia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: This study evaluated the engagement of staff regarding infectious healthcare waste management, in two case-study universities in Tunisia. Using a questionnaire survey, it was found that the most significant reported factors that influenced engagement were the availability of technical sheets and posters, training and education programs, and the age range of the staff. While there was some accordance with the Tunisian Decree application n ° 2008–2745 of July 28th, 2008, as well as international guidelines and best practice (e.g. the use of color coded bins, waste management teams, and infection control measures), there were also limitations in the provision of training. This limitation in training and, to a lesser extent, awareness impacted on the beliefs about infectious healthcare waste management of staff and their practices. Recommendations for addressing these issues are suggested.

Keywords: developing countries; healthcare waste practices; medical waste; infection prevention and control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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