Author(s)

M. Machate, LZ. Maduna, K. Semenya & NDL. Thabethe

Abstract

Healthcare waste (HCW) generation is influenced by myriad of factors.  This paper presents empirical results on the factors that influence health care waste generation at Ehlanzeni District Municipality. In assessing these factors, the paper begins by examining the concept of HCW, their implication and classification criteria. Empirical data from 57 healthcare facilities were collected and analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this study confirmed, among others that the number of patients served per day (inpatients and outpatients), the number of personnel (staff), have an influence on the amount of HCW generated per day per kg, at different correlational levels. The number of patients served per day have proved a strong correlation with the amount of HCW generated per day per kg, as compared to the number of personnel. Among other findings, the study revealed that there are numerous factors that influence HCW generation at varying the degrees.

Keywords

healthcare waste, healthcare waste definitions, healthcare waste management, general healthcare waste, hazardous healthcare waste.