Iranian J Env Health Sci Eng,

MH 2005, Vol.2, No.2,

Ehrampoush andpp.26-30
MH Baghianimoghadam: Survey of Knowledge...

Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Yazd University

of Medical Sciences Students about Solid Wastes Disposal and
Recycling

* MH Ehrampoush 1, MH Baghiani Moghadam 2

1
Dept. of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Iran
2
Dept. of Health Services, Faculty of Health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Iran

(First received 15 May 2005; accepted in revised form 13 September 2005)

ABSTRACT
The risk of unhealthy disposal of solid waste is one of the important problems in many societies, and
recycling is considered as a solution for managing solid wastes. Environmental knowledge and attitude
of young people (like students) appears to be crucial as their point of view ultimately plays an impor-
tant role in providing solution to future environmental problems. In this study the knowledge, attitude
and practice of Yazd University of Medical Sciences students in respect of disposal of solid wastes and
the important factors were studied. Two hundred thirty seven students were included in this cross-sec-
tional study, selected from 5 schools of this university. Data collected by a self administered question-
naire containing four sections, were analyzed using SPSS for Windows. The mean grade of knowledge
of men and women was 13.53 and 12.38, of 20, respectively. The difference between the knowledge of
males and females was significant (P< 0.016). On the whole the knowledge of the students was not
appropriate. About 66% of students did not have any action in segregation and recycling of solid
wastes. It is concluded that all students must take part in formal and informal education classes to
promote their knowledge in this regard.

Keywords: Recycling, KAP, Students, Solid waste, Iran

INTRODUCTION idly educate the public and facilitate the devel-

opment of environmentally friendly community
Unhealthy disposal of solid waste is considered waste behavior. To be successful, useful pro-
as one of the most important problems in many grams should be designed to engage their target
societies. The problem of waste management audiences in not only increasing their environ-
has arisen recently in developing countries mental knowledge but their environmental
where there is little history of the implementa- skills, attitudes and behavior as well. Accord-
tion of formal and informal community envi- ingly, a first step in the program design process
ronmental education awareness program. The is to establish the prior knowledge of specific
instigation of such program is essential to rap- age groups, covering such categories as the
level of knowledge, its sources and everyday
*Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] application (Palmer, 1995; Caneer, 1997;
Tel: +98 351 6245853, Fax: +98 351 6238555 Tucker et al., 1998), as well as target audiences'

26
 MH Ehrampoush and MH Baghianimoghadam: Survey of Knowledge...

attitudes and behavior intention (Ballantyne and MATERIALS AND METHODS

Packer, 1996; Ballantyne, 1998).
Environmental attitude of young people appears Two hundred thirty seven students were in-
to be crucial as they ultimately play a direct cluded in this cross-sectional study, selected
role in providing knowledge-based solutions to from 5 schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry,
in- coming environmental problems (Bradly et Paramedical and Public Health in Yazd Uni-
al., 1999; Eagles and Demare, 1999). Further- versity of Medical Sciences, Iran. The instru-
more, school environmental program, although ment of research was a self administered ques-
addressed to students can also influence upon tionnaire containing four sections, relating to
the environmental knowledge, attitude and the demographic information with three ques-
behavior of adults (parents, teachers and local tions, knowledge information with six ques-
community members) through the process of tions, information regarding attitude with
intergenerational influence (Evans et al., 1996; twelve questions and practice in solid wastes
Ballantyne, 1998; Gallagher et al., 2000). management information with twenty four
The few studies conducted on the environ- questions. The best score for knowledge was
mental education program, regarding children 20, followed as: more than 17= good, 10-16=
and young people show that the level of moderate, and lower than 10= bad. The attitude
environmental awareness is relatively low question was classified to Likert scales. The
(Grodzinska and Jurczak, 2001). The informa- data were coded and analyzed by SPSS for
tion acquired is mostly factual in nature and is Windows software with x2 test and frequency
not systematized. distribution.
Recycling is regarded as one of the important
factors in environmental management of solid
wastes (Rabinson, 1986). It reduces the amount RESULTS
of solid wastes, so less space is needed for their
disposal in Iran,(Kazemi bazardehi, 1996). Of 237 students participated in this survey, 95
The Organization of Solid Wastes Disposal pre- were males, 52 from Yazd, 156 from other cit-
dicts that if half of the papers in solid wastes ies of Iran and 29 from rural areas.
are recycled, it will be equal to maintaining 8 The data in Table 1 shows that the knowledge
million hectares of forests (Payam- E- Sabz, level of 66% of male students was good and
1995). moderate, while knowledge of 34% was low.
The results of some studies show that virtually The knowledge of females was lower than
50% of solid wastes are recyclable (Rahmany, males, so the knowledge of 51.4% of females
2001) and recycling of solid wastes before dis- was low. The difference between the knowl-
posal is economic (Omrany, 1995).The impor- edge of males and females was significant
tant point is encouraging the people to decrease (P<0.016).
the solid wastes and recycle them (Keynejhad Fifty nine percent of students stated that the
and Ebrahimy, 1999). In this paper we in- best way for disposal of solid wastes was recy-
spected the knowledge, attitude, behavior and cling (Table 2) and more than 87.1% believed
decision making in the area of municipal solid recycling as economical (Table 3).
waste management. The findings of this study Pertaining to the methods of segregation and
might facilitate improvements of the program separation of solid wastes, 72.1% of students
that enhances the role of students to play as believed that the best method was segregation
catalysts of environmental change in their at home, 18.3% considered that segregation
families and communities. must be in the place of collection and 9.6%-

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 Iranian J Env Health Sci Eng, 2005, Vol.2, No.2, pp.26-30

deemed that the segregation must be done in the not have any action in segregating and recy-
place of disposal. cling of solid wastes.
The students who believed that the best method
for disposal was segregation at home were stu- Table 1: The distribution of frequency of the knowledge
of students to methods of disposal based on the sex
dents in the fields of medicine, dentistry and (P<0.016)
public health (Table 4).
The data in table 5 is in relation to the behavior Knowledge Good Moderate Low Total
and practice of students in segregation of solid Sex
wastes. The students who stated that they seg- Male 14.9 51.1 34 100
regated the solid wastes were the students in Female 15.7 32.9 51.4 100
public health field. More than 66% of them did Total 15.3 40.2 44.5 100

Table 2: The distribution of attitude of students to the best methods of disposal of solid waste based on the sex
The best method Sanitary Recycling Incineration Solid wastes Total
Landfill reduction
Sex
Male 8.5 51.1 10.6 29.8 100
Female 6.6 64.2 6.6 22.6 100
Total 7.3 59 8.2 25.5 100

Table 3: The distribution of economically importance of recycling in students point of view

Importance Very high Moderate Low and very low Total

Courses
Health 89.5 7 3.5 100
Nursing 77.1 18.8 4.2 100
Paramedical and midwifery 88.6 9.8 1.6 100
Medicine and dentistry 91.0 7.5 1.5 100
Total 87.1 10.3 2.6 100

Table 4: The distribution of frequency of the best method for segregation recycling materials based on the groups of stu-
dents

The best method Segregation in Segregation in Segregation in Total

Courses producing site collection site disposal site
Health 43.2 14.3 12.5 100
Nursing 66.7 20.8 12.5 100
Paramedical and midwifery 71.7 16.7 11.6 100
Medicine and dentistry 75.3 21.5 3.2 100
Total 72.1 18.3 9.6 100

Table 5: The distribution of frequency of students' cooperation in segregation of recycling materials

Segregation recycling materials Yes No Total

Courses
Health 67.2 32.8 100
Nursing 40.4 59.6 100
Paramedical and midwifery 34.4 65.6 100
Medicine and dentistry 28.4 71.6 100
Total 33.5 66.5 100

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 MH Ehrampoush and MH Baghianimoghadam: Survey of Knowledge...

DISCUSSION et al., 2001). Our findings confirm those re-

ported in Brazil and Hokkaido (Ferrarini et al.,
Unsanitary disposal of wastes is a major envi- 1989; Yamamto et al., 1995; Rego Rde et al.,
ronmental concern in the world and Iran. The 2002).
current legislation system and waste manage- This study along with others indicate that pro-
ment practices require numerous improvements grams to improve students environmental
and modification in order to meet EU standards. awareness can increase their knowledge of
It is contended that such changes need to be them, which in turn results in improvement of
accompanied by a community environmental students and parents' attitudes and behavior.
education program designed to improve citi- Data of this study showed that the knowledge,
zens' knowledge, attitudes and behavior attitude and practice of people and students
(McGarity and Wojcik, 2000; Grodzinska and were not appropriate in this district; hence it is
Jurczak, 2001). nec- essary to contribute in the development of
A study shows that the environmental knowl- long-term environmental awareness programs.
edge of the students can improve the knowl-
edge of their parents (Malgorzata Grodzinska et ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
al., 2003); according to the parents reports, the
majority of students (70%) had discussed the The authors are greatly indebted to the students
program with their parents, and just over one- of Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Iran,
third of them (34%) had made suggestion to Mrs. Saif and Mrs. Ghaem Mohammady for
their parents regarding the ways in which they their assistance and cooperation in the imple-
could improve their waste management prac- mentation of this study.
tices at home.
Our results showed that the knowledge of more REFERENCES
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