Page 210 - AJWEP-22-5

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 5 (2025), pp. 204-213.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025090058

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Knowledge, attitude, and practices toward biomedical
waste management among healthcare workers

Swetha Suram , Vani Gayathri Rudra , Ramesh Kumar Miryala ,
1
1
1
and Narasimha Reddy Parine *
2,3
1 Department of Business Management, Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda, Telangana, India
2 Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3 Department of Zoology, Kakatiya Degree PG College, Nalgonda, Telangana, India
*Corresponding author: Narasimha Reddy Parine (reddyparine@gmail.com)

Received: February 27, 2025; 1st Revised: June 24, 2025; 2nd Revised: June 29, 2025;
Accepted: July 2, 2025; Published online: August 6, 2025

Abstract: Biomedical waste (BMW) refers to any solid or liquid waste, including its packaging and by-products,
generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals. Poor and inappropriate
management of healthcare waste poses significant health risks and can cause substantial environmental damage.
Given the enduring importance of BMW management, this study aims to assess healthcare workers’ (HCWs)
knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding BMW management (BMWM) at various levels of hospitals and
diagnostic services. This cross-sectional study included 163 participants and was carried out from April 2024 to
June 2024 in the Nalgonda and Warangal districts of Telangana state, India. The findings revealed that a significant
proportion of doctors (87.7%) and nurses (80%) demonstrated good to excellent knowledge of BMWM, whereas
only 66.6% of other HCWs reached similar levels. A strong positive attitude toward BMWM was observed among
96.3% of participants. In terms of practices, 63.4% of doctors, 72% of nurses, and 76.3% of other HCWs exhibited
excellent adherence to BMWM practices. The study also found knowledge regarding BMWM disparities based
on workplace location. These findings provide critical insights for hospital executives, policymakers, and public
health professionals to devise specialized training and awareness schemes to strengthen BMWM practices.
Keywords: Biomedical waste management; Healthcare workers; Knowledge; Attitude and practices

1. Introduction a healthier environment, effective BMW management
(BMWM) is essential. Ministry of Environment and
“Biomedical waste” (BMW) refers to any waste Forests, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,
generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or established rules for the management and handling
immunization of human beings or animals, or from of BMW, which have been amended multiple times
related research activities, or from the production or thereafter. According to the Doctors Manual for
4
testing of biologicals, including in health camps. It is Environmental Clearance (n.d.), the Bio-medical
1-3
the social and legal responsibility of all individuals and Waste (Management and Handling) Rules apply to
institutions involved in funding or assisting healthcare all individuals and entities involved in the generation,
activities to manage BMW safely and sustainably. For collection, receipt, storage, transport, treatment,

Volume 22 Issue 5 (2025) 204 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025090058