HEALTH CARE WASTE RISK PERCEPTION RESPONSE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, ARBA MINCH TOWN, SOUTH ETHIOPIA, 2024: VIA EXTENDED PARALLEL PROCESS MODEL

Abstract

Background: Risk perception is subjective judgments about risk. Mismanagement of healthcare waste puts people and the environment at high risk including more than two million healthcare workers. Infections of viral hepatitis A, B, and C, Human immune virus (HIV), skin infections, septicemia, anthrax, burns, respiratory infections, injuries, and contamination are among the dangers. Despite this, there is deficit on study in Ethiopia on HCW risk perception. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess healthcare waste risk perception and its associated factors among healthcare workers in public hospitals through an extended parallel process model, Arba Minch, South Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 health workers with structured self-administered questionnaire. T-test and ANOVA tests were run to compare the mean difference of perceptions among respondents’ characteristics, and among attitudinal response (efficacy by threat interaction) while correlation assessed the relationship among perceptions. Binary logistic regression was used to identify significant factors affecting healthcare waste risk perception by p-value of 0.05 with 95% CI. Final model fitness was checked using the Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit test. Results: 103 (39.5%) were no-response respondents followed by 62 (23.6%) Responsive, 66 (25.3%) Proactive respondents, and 30 (11.6%) Fear Control respondents. Danger-controlling response for HCW was 108 (41.4%). Perceived self-efficacy is the lowest perception toward HCW (median = 55). Midwife respondents had lower odds (AOR: 0.132, CI: 0.039-0.44) of controlling the danger of HCW risks while getting a message from training (AOR: 3.17, CI: 1.052-9.59) and good knowledge (AOR: 3.46, CI: 1.49-8.02) of HCW increased odds of controlling danger of HCW risks. Conclusions: The study revealed a low HCW risk perception processing. Profession type, message source, and knowledge were the significant factors. Training with both threat and efficacy messaging based on Risk Behavior Diagnosis scale assessment was recommended