Análise do contributo de educação ambiental na gestão dos resíduos sólidos hospitalares: caso do Centro de Saúde de Ndlavela

Abstract

The present study has thematic analysis of the contribution of environmental education in the management of solid hospital waste. Its main objective was to analyze the contribution of environmental education in the management of hospital solid waste at the Ndlavela Health Center. With regard to methodological aspects, the study is empirical and qualitative, with a descriptive approach. The study had a total sample of 8 health professionals divided by both sexes. As for the instruments and techniques of data collection were used the semi-structured interview and direct observation. For data analysis we used the content analysis technique that followed three steps, namely pre-analysis, material exploration and interpretation of results. The results of the study indicate that the main hospital wastes produced at the Ndlavela Health Center are of three types which are the infectious, cut-piercing and common lyca. The study also found that the social and environmental impact of hospital wastes is very large and negative as management is defective in the Ndlavela health center. It was also concluded with the study that the health center Ndlavela develops some environmental education actions which are awareness raising and information sharing among colleagues. As for the recommendations the health unit decides to elaborate a hospital waste management cloth, there is a greater need to develop more environmental education actions in the health center and finally partnerships should be created between the health center and the municipalities and other companies to the aid in the management of hospital waste.