KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG UNDERGRADUATES NURSING STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN BENIN CITY

Healthcare waste management is a critical issue in healthcare settings, with implications for infection control, environmental safety, andpublic health. This study investigated the knowledge,attitudes, andpractices ofhealthcare waste management among undergraduate nursing students in a tertiary educational institution in Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. random sampling technique was used to select 255 undergraduate nursing students across 200-500 levels. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with four sections examining socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to healthcare waste management. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics were generated, and hypothesis testing was performed using chi-square analysis at a significance level of0.05. The study achieved a 97% response rate (247 valid questionnaires). Findings revealed that 68% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge ofhealthcare waste management, while 32% exhibitedpoor knowledge. Regarding attitudes, 71% displayedpositive dispositions toward healthcare waste management practices. In terms of practice, 77%demonstrated high levels ofproper healthcare waste handling and disposal. The study identified several influential factors, including adequate training programs, availability of disposal facilities, supervision, andpersonal commitment. Notably, no statistically significant relationship wasfound between knowledge andpractice x2 = 2.101, p = 0.07). While the majority of undergraduate nursing students demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitudes,and high compliance with proper waste management practices, significant gaps remain,particularly in specific knowledge areas and the translation ofknowledge intopractice.