Compliance with Biomedical Waste Sorting Practices and Associated Factors in Hospitals in the Lubao Territory, Lomami Province, DRC: An Analytical CrossSectional Study

Abstract

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rural hospitals generate significant amounts of biomedical waste, yet scientific data on its management remain scarce. However, methods for managing healthcare waste can pose risks of nosocomial infections to humans and environmental pollution if the various stages of the management process are not carried out correctly.

The objective of this study is to assess the level of compliance with current standards regarding biomedical waste sorting practices in hospitals in the Lubao territory (Lomami Province). A cross-sectional analytical study using a mixedmethods approach (quantitative and qualitative) was conducted in six hospitals. Data were collected through direct observation, questionnaires administered to healthcare staff, and semi-structured interviews with hygiene managers. The data collected reveals generally insufficient compliance with sorting practices. Reported compliance rates ranged from 55% in Tshofa to 40% in Lubao and 25% in Kamana, with an estimated overall average of around 40%. Staff training also showed significant disparities: nearly 79.5% of staff received training in Tshofa, compared to 57.5% in Lubao and 40% in Kamana. However, the case of Tshofa demonstrates that a high level of training and better availability of equipment do not automatically guarantee satisfactory compliance. 

Key words: Biomedical waste; waste segregation; healthcare facilities; compliance; staff training; Lubao, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Received Date: September 17, 2026

Accepted Date: October 09, 2026

Published Date: November 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/1046