Abstract

Waste management encompasses a wide range of planned procedures and activities, either from its generation to final disposal, as well as long-term strategy for ensuring environmentally sustainable waste management. While, public health, on the other hand, connotes an insight into illness prevention and personal care in connection with health promotion and social factors. In critically examining waste management and public health of the Nigeria’s healthcare sector; this study specifically sought to evaluate the effect of knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers on waste management, and to also ascertain the effect of personnel training practices in the healthcare sector on waste management. The study adopted cross sectional survey method. Data were collected using the questionnaire research instrument and were manually administered to the respondents. Collected data were analysed using Simple percentage and Chi-square (X²) statistical tool. The findings revealed that knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers has significant effect on waste management (x² = 395.6) > (x^t = 7.815), and personnel training practices in the healthcare sector had significant effect on waste management (x² = 373.53) > (x^t = 7.815). The study concludes that the healthcare sector is reputed to dispose of prodigious amounts of waste; due to their ability to manage its negative effects on their environment through effective awareness on how best wastes should be managed. It was recommended that there should be a continuous enlightenment, sensitization, and training on effective and safe waste management to aid the improvement of a more conducive and sustainable environment.

Key words: Healthcare, management, public, segregation, training, waste.