Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
Background:
Biomedical waste (BMW) is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of patients and includes infectious materials, sharps, and other hazardous substances. Improper biomedical waste management can lead to serious health risks for healthcare workers, patients, and the community, as well as environmental pollution.
Objective:
To assess the knowledge and practices regarding biomedical waste management among healthcare providers at District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Parachinar, District Kurram.
Materials and Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at DHQ Hospital Parachinar, District Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 109 healthcare providers, including nurses, paramedical staff, and housekeeping staff, were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of demographic information, knowledge assessment, and practice-related questions. The collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used.
Results:
The study found that most participants had satisfactory knowledge regarding biomedical waste management, particularly in relation to sharps disposal and waste segregation. A considerable proportion of participants reported good waste segregation practices; however, important gaps were identified in PPE use, prevention of bin overfilling, and misconceptions regarding needle recapping. Heavy workload and lack of training were the most commonly reported barriers.
Conclusion:
Healthcare providers at DHQ Hospital Parachinar demonstrated general satisfaction
knowledge and relatively good practices regarding biomedical waste management. However, continuous training, improved supervision, and adequate provision of waste management resources are necessary to strengthen safe biomedical waste management practices.