Characteristics and Factors Associated with Medical Waste Management Behaviour in Private Dental Health Services in Pekanbaru City, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Medical waste is a problem when its amount is accumulated as well as the way the private dental healthcare still manages improperly. AIM: This study aims to define types and the number of medical wastes, also to analyse behaviour toward waste management and its associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research used a quantitative analytic approach and cross-sectional design with 149 private dental practice populations in total. There were 60 dentists obtained using systematic random sampling in Pekanbaru. Data processed by conducting summation medical waste and counting the percentage of behaviour’s variables. Data collected within 20 days were processed with dental waste laboratory tests and chi-square analysis. RESULTS: The result showed that dental, medical wastes average was 0.3 ± 0.07 kg/day which is 69% infectious, 27% toxic, and 4% radioactive. Overall results showed associated factors related to waste management behaviour were knowledge, training attainment, availability of facilities, and the use of personal protective equipment. CONCLUSION: The numbers of medical waste from dental health services in Pekanbaru were still low. More than half the Dentist had poor behaviour in dental, medical waste management. It is recommended to the dental profession organisation to cooperate with City Health Office to hold management training on medical waste in dental health care to educate and raise dentists’ awareness to be able to manage the waste of dental health services properly and by the regulations.