Comparing and Prioritizing Different Methods of Collection and Decontamination of Waste in Decentralized Healthcare Centers

One of the most important problems in the safe management of healthcare wastes is in decentralized centers that there are different methods for it in IRAN. The aim of this study was to compare and prioritize different methods of collection and decontamination of healthcare waste in decentralized health centers in Iran.  

In a descriptive-analytical study, various methods of collecting and decontaminating the healthcare waste of decentralized healthcare centers in Iran in terms of administrative, health, economic and environmental have been studied by a questionnaire. Also the opinions and the preferences of experts for selecting each method were collected and analyzed.

The results show that health issues had the highest priority for decontamination of waste from decentralized health centers according to environmental health experts. Collection by special vehicles with the help of the private sector and transfer to centralized disinfection centers is the best method of collecting waste (33%). Also, decontamination by autoclave was the most desirable method (56%) of decontamination and, in their opinion, the method of landfilling is the most harmful and autoclave / hydroclave is the least harmful to the climate and soil. Since the health aspect was the most important priority in waste management of decentralized healthcare centers (54%) were considered by environmental health experts.

Autoclave after collection at centralized location is the most appropriate way to decontaminate this type of waste. It is suggested that further studies be conducted on modern collection and disinfection systems along with localization and determination of workplace health policies.