Journal of

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Background: The environmental hygiene standards are one of the factors that compliance with them can help hospitals achieve their goals. Therefore having enough information about the environmental hygiene status of the hospital is of great importance. This study evaluates the environmental hygiene indexes status in hospitals.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional - descriptive study was conducted in 2011. Using the census method, all of Karaj's hospitals formed the statistical population of this study (n=8). Data was collected from the checklist of National Program of Public Hospitals Accreditation (the hygiene and cleanliness segment) which included 68 questions with the overall score of 800 and evaluated the hygienic status of the hospital from 6 different aspects.. These checklists were filled, making interviews and observation of the status of each hospital. Data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS software (version 16).
Results: The results showed that among the different aspects of hygienic and cleanness situation of hospitals, water and wastewater hygiene and professional hygiene of the hospital had respectively the largest and lowest difference percentage with their highest standard levels. Overall, the average score of compliance with hygienic standards was about 742 ±1.9 in the entire centers. This average score was respectively, 716.5± 18, 760± 11.5 and 768 in university-related hospitals, private hospitals and hospitals related with the social security organization.
Conclusion: To improve the environment hygiene status of the hospitals, more effort through developing practical strategies, making appropriate decisions and allocating enough resources are recommended.

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Background: There are various departments in hospital that produce hazardous, infectious, pathological and radioactive wastes. Utilizing proper methods of waste management is of high priority in order to prevent from releasing these wastes to environment. This study aimed to evaluate waste management efficiency in Karaj hospitals.

Material & Methods: This cross - sectional study was conducted in Karaj during 2011-2013. All hospitals of Karaj had been selected as statistical population of this study (n=8) by census. The data had been collected by separating and weighting produced hospital wastes for 4 month (during one week at each month) and filling related checklists of health ministry. Collected Data had been analyzed using SPSS software.

                               

Results: The daily capita of waste was 4.1 kg per active bed, 5.6 kg per occupied bed  and 9.4 kg per patient. The overall percentage score of present status of hospital waste management was assessed 88% and in 12% which indicate moderate and weak levels respectively. Hospital waste management had been evaluated weak in terms of collection, transportation and personnel but seen from the viewpoint in the separation and temporary storage, it was assessed moderate. However, in terms of disposal, assessment of hospital waste management showed it is in a desirable status.

Conclusion: The present status of hospital waste management was far beyond the expectations  among studies hospitals. Thus, developing an operational plan and monitoring its implementation is highly recommended to. Given the main weakness of hospital waste management was related to production, collection, separation, and transportation, taking these areas consideration  is of high priority.