Abstract
Introduction Hazardous healthcare waste produced at home contributes to approximately 0.5% of
biomedical waste, and although potentially infectious, is often discarded with other
domestic wastes. The study aimed to quantify and compare types and patterns of biomedical
waste generated in homes and to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding
biomedical waste among selected urban and rural households in the coastal area of
Mangalore city in Karnataka.
Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in households consisting of rural and urban
field practice areas of a tertiary care hospital in coastal Karnataka from November
2017 to February 2018. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire on knowledge, attitude,
and practice regarding healthcare waste generated at home was assessed. Qualitative
variables of the waste segregation practice, types of biomedical waste, the knowledge,
perception, and attitude to practices regarding biomedical waste were expressed in
percentages proportions and analyzed using SPSS v.20.
Results Baby diapers were the most common hazardous waste. The number of baby diapers produced
daily in rural and urban areas was 32 (42.7%) and 64 (85.3%), respectively. The urban
households had better knowledge of possible hazardous healthcare waste at home, 28
(37.33%) compared with 7 (9.3%) in rural households. Seventy-one (94.7%) urban and
49 (65.3%) rural households had a favorable attitude toward the disposal of hazardous
domestic biomedical waste.
Conclusion The knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding hazardous healthcare waste produced
at the household level were better among urban households compared with rural households.
Keywords
refuse disposal - medical waste disposal - condoms - menstrual hygiene products -
domestic biomedical waste
