Determination of medical waste composition in hospitals of Sana'a city, Yemen

The composition analysis of medical waste is generally considered to be the fundamental information for the most basic steps in the development of a plan for solid hospitals waste management. The objectives of this study were to determine the quantity, generation rate, and the physical composition of medical waste generated in hospitals of Sana'a city, Yemen. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on the composition of hospital wastes generated in four governmental hospitals in Sana'a City. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of the hospitals, which included (Al-Thawra, Al-Kuwait, Republic, and Military). Results of this study showed that the daily average of the waste generated from the studied hospitals was 5615 kg/day. Approximately 26% of the total waste was hazardous (infectious, pathological, and chemical wastes). While 74% was a general (non-hazardous) waste. The average rate of the total waste generation was 3 kg/patient/day, and 2.5 kg/bed/day. The mean individual components of generated waste in the studied hospitals were; foods 27%, plastic 22%, paper/cardboard 22%, glass 11%, metals 10%, and others 8%. In conclusion, about 26% of the waste was hazardous. The physical component analysis of the waste indicated that the foods, plastic, and paper/cartoon has the highest content of the hospitals waste. Decision makers in Yemen can use this study information for designing and plan the properly management for the collecting system and the healthy disposal of the hazardous waste. Also, for estimating the total policy of required facilities, manpower, and other related costs.