Quantitative data.

Healthcare Waste (HCW) is a special waste produced in healthcare institutions, including hospitals. It has a high potential for infection and injuries. The issue of waste disposal is growing as the number of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic laboratories in Nepal continues to increase. The study aimed to assess the adherence to healthcare waste management (HCWM) practices and knowledge among waste handlers at the government district hospitals of Madhesh Province of Nepal which lies in the southern part of the country. A cross-sectional mixed-method study design was employed to assess the adherence of healthcare waste management practices and knowledge of healthcare waste management guideline among HCW handlers from 10 district-level hospitals in Madhesh Province. We developed a semi-structured questionnaire from Nepal’s National HCWM Guideline 2014 and the World Health Organization HCWM Rapid Assessment Tool 2011, to interview 60 HCW handlers for quantitative information. Then 10 key informant interviews were conducted using KII guidelines with related stakeholders of district hospitals of Madhesh Province. A four-point Likert scale was used to assess the practices and knowledge of HCW handlers and health facility-related factors. Descriptive data analysis was presented in tables for frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and correlation was presented in Graphs. A thematic analysis was performed for qualitative data by using RQDA and discussing the findings before concluding the study. Among the sixty participants, the median age was thirty-five years while thirty percent were less than the median age. Among total participants, the majority of female were 65% and almost all of them (96.67%) were married. The majority (65%) were females and almost all (96.67%) were married. About one-third (36.67%) of participants were illiterate. Most of the participants had experience of 5 to 10 years. The mean adherence of HCWM was 74.88±9.66 SD. Among the participants, half of them had adequate knowledge while the median knowledge of HCWM was 39 and the inter-quartile range was 5 (q3 = 41, q1 = 36). The mean of the HCWM practice was 24.18±5.96. The median of health facilities-related factors was 13 and the interquartile range was 3 (q3 = 15 and q1 = 12). The full adherence to HCWM guideline 2014 was extremely low among healthcare waste handlers. The HCWs had less adequate knowledge of HCWM and they did not practice to manage HCW adequately in district hospitals. However, the hospitals had adequately provided amenities to manage healthcare waste.

医疗废物（Healthcare Waste, HCW）是医疗机构（含医院）产生的特殊废物，具有较高的感染与损伤风险。随着尼泊尔医院、诊所及诊断实验室数量持续增长，医疗废物处置问题日益凸显。本研究旨在评估位于尼泊尔南部马德什省的区级公立医院中，医疗废物处置人员对医疗废物管理（Healthcare Waste Management, HCWM）规范的依从性及其相关认知水平。本研究采用横断面混合研究设计，针对马德什省10家区级医院的医疗废物处置人员，评估其对医疗废物管理规范的依从性与认知情况。研究基于尼泊尔2014版国家医疗废物管理指南与世界卫生组织2011版医疗废物快速评估工具，设计半结构化问卷，对60名医疗废物处置人员开展访谈以获取定量数据。随后，依据关键知情人访谈（Key Informant Interview, KII）指南，对马德什省区级医院的相关利益方开展10场关键知情人访谈。研究采用四点李克特量表（Four-point Likert Scale）评估医疗废物处置人员的实践操作与认知水平，以及医疗机构相关影响因素。定量数据采用描述性统计分析，以表格呈现频次、占比、均值与标准差，相关性分析结果以图表展示；定性数据则借助RQDA软件开展主题分析，并在研究总结前对研究结果进行研讨。60名参与者的中位年龄为35岁，其中30%的参与者年龄低于中位值。参与者中女性占比65%，且绝大多数（96.67%）已婚。约三分之一（36.67%）的参与者为文盲，多数人员拥有5至10年的从业经验。医疗废物管理的平均依从得分为74.88±9.66（标准差）。半数参与者具备充足的医疗废物管理相关知识，医疗废物管理知识的中位得分为39，四分位间距为5（Q3=41，Q1=36）。医疗废物管理实践的平均得分为24.18±5.96。医疗机构相关影响因素的中位得分为13，四分位间距为3（Q3=15，Q1=12）。研究发现，医疗废物处置人员对2014版医疗废物管理指南的完全依从率极低。医疗废物处置人员的医疗废物管理相关认知水平不足，且在区级医院中未能充分落实医疗废物规范管理操作。不过，各医院均已配备较为充足的医疗废物管理配套设施。