Survey of the Status of Wastes Generated in Healthcare Centers of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran, in 2015

Increase in amount and variety of healthcare wastes is one of the most important problems affecting human health and environment. Due to the infectious effects of these wastes, accurate management of them in the healthcare centers is essential. The aim of this study was to determine the quantity and quality of the wastes generated in the healthcare centers of Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad province, Iran, in 2015. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad province. Samples were taken from 432 healthcare centers in the province through census method. Three samples were taken from the affiliated units of Yasuj (capital city of Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad province) University of Medical Science in one year, and the average weight of them was considered as final weight. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Excel software. Findings: Total wastes generated in the affiliated units of Yasuj University of Medical Science were 1186.26 kg/day. Ordinary waste, sharp waste, infectious waste, chemical waste, radiological waste, and pathological waste were 80.86%, 1.50%, 16.09%, 0.71%, 0.36%, and 0.44%, respectively. Healthcare centers in Boyerahmad and Choram counties had the highest and the lowest amount of infectious and sharp wastes, respectively. Due to the relatively high volume of infectious wastes in the provincial centers (more than 16%), it is essential to equip the centers with devices which treat the infectious and sharp wastes