BACKGROUND: It is known that the basic role of healthcare system is to preserve the health of patients and protect the public from diseases. However, in the process of performing these activities, health facilities generate hazardous waste that could be potentially harmful to healthcare workers, the public and the environment if there is insufficient handling, treatment and disposal of those wastes. Unfortunately, healthcare waste management is, in many regions, not yet carried out with a satisfactory degree of safety. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess healthcare waste generation rate and its management system in health centers of Bench Maji Zone. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August, 2016. Observational checklist, key informant interview guide and weight scale were used to assess healthcare waste generation rate and its management system in selected health centers. Training, pre-test, instrument calibration and daily meeting were used to improve data quality. The Data was entered, compiled and analyzed using EpiData version 3.1 and SPSS version 21. The results on waste management system were reported using different descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Out of the total HCW generated in health centers, more than half (57.9%) was general or non-risk HCW, and the remaining 42.1% was hazardous healthcare waste. The amount of HCW generated in the studied health centers was different from WHO’s norm which may be attributed to different factors such as economy, patient flow, difference in services provided, poor waste segregation practice, available waste management system and seasonal factors. CONCLUSION: HCW was not adequately managed which is characterized by lack of HCW segregation at source of generation and inadequate facilities to manage HCW. Therefore, it is important to develop a HCW management plan for keeping human health as well environmental sustainability. KEYWORDS: Healthcare waste, health center, healthcare waste generation rate, hazardous waste, general waste
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