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The disposal pattern of domestic medical and pharmaceutical waste in Uyo metropolis, Southern Nigeria

Background: Assessment of waste disposal practices is an important step in designing interventions to improve the health status of municipal communities. Objectives: This study was aimed at assessing the domestic medical and pharmaceutical waste disposal practices by households in Uyo metropolis, Nigeria; and to provide informal education on appropriate practices for the community. Methods: The town was demarcated into three zones A, B and C equivalent to high income, middle income and low income residential areas respectively. A total of one hundred and forty households were randomly selected from the zones (40 households each from zones A and B and 60 from zone C). The sampling unit was the head or representative of each household. A pretested self–administered questionnaire was used to assess the domestic medical and pharmaceutical waste disposal practices. Chi-square test was performed to assess differences in the disposal practices between the three zones. A p-value of less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: Majority of households disposed medical and pharmaceutical waste with garbage. The proportion of households involved in this practice ranged from 85% to 96.67% for medical waste and 73.34% to 82.5% for pharmaceutical waste. Only a small proportion disposed medical waste by burning or burying. Disposal by incineration was not practiced at all in the population surveyed. There was no significant difference in waste disposal practices between the three zones. Conclusion: Waste was not sorted before disposal. Recommended methods were not followed in disposing the medical and pharmaceutical wastes. The disposal of domestic medical waste especially the sharps does not meet the international standard.