Knowledge, attitudes and practices of sharps waste disposal by diabetic patients in rural South Africa

Background: Sharps waste is hazardous, and it should be disposed of in a proper manner, as it can contribute to transmission of diseases and create a negative impact on the environment. The aim of this investigation was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding sharps waste disposal of diabetic patients who inject themselves at home in uMzinyathi District Municipality, a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted using a self-administered questionnaire. Consecutive sampling with a sample size of 308 insulin-dependent diabetic patients from five selected health facilities of uMzinyathi District Municipality was used.Results: The majority of respondents (62.3%) lacked knowledge regarding proper sharps waste disposal. The vast majority of respondents (90.6%) recognised that sharps waste should be separated from general waste. Among those who acknowledged that someone in their home had been injured by a needle, 53.3% stated that they were motivated to change their method of sharps waste disposal.Conclusion: The study findings indicated that the majority of the respondents lacked knowledge regarding proper disposal of sharps waste because they were not taught proper methods of sharps waste disposal. There was a general lack of awareness on proper disposal of sharps waste by diabetic patients in the home setting. The study recommended that healthcare workers must place more emphasis on the awareness of proper sharps waste disposal in order to equip diabetic patients with relevant information regarding sharps waste disposal