Assessment of the quality of effluent management from university hospitals in the Littoral department in Benin

BACKGROUND: Liquid discharges from hospitals (effluents) threaten the environment and are now a central concern of all stakeholders in the health system and those in the protection of the environment. The management of effluents is a major problem in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of effluent management at the level of university hospital centers (CHU) in the Littoral region in Benin. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive, evaluative study that took place in 2020 to assess the “structure”, “process” and “results” components according to standard thresholds (Bad: < 60%; Acceptable: [60–80% [and Good: ≥ 80%). RESULTS: In all the CHUs, all the components, as well as the overall quality of the management of hospital effluents, had a score between 0 and 60%, with an assessment deemed bad. The poor quality of the process highlighted the non-compliance with standards relating to the management of hospital liquid discharges. Several factors linked to the “structure”, “process” and “results” components at the same time explain this poor management of university hospitals effluents. CONCLUSION: These effluents discharged without prior treatment into wastewater could constitute a source of dissemination of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. It is therefore important to develop methods for treating these effluents before they are released into the natural environment.