Knowledge and attitude to the effect of solid waste on community health among community health students in Magway, Myanmar

Abstract

Our society generates an enormous amount of solid waste. Most of it is municipal in origin; a substantial part is industrial and biomedical. Nowadays, abundant public health and environmental issues arise from improper solid waste management. Students are principally regarded as the future of the nation, and they are potential for environmental sustainability. This study aims to access the knowledge and attitude level of community health students, to determine the factors influencing knowledge and attitude level towards the effect of solid waste on community health and to provide the community health educational design for rising the knowledge and attitude level of community health students. The cross-sectional analytic study was conducted using web-based self-administered questionnaires among community health students (n = 322) in University of Community Health, Magway, Myanmar. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 21.0 using multiple logistic regression and Chi-squared tests with significant levels at 0.05. Majority of participants were male, single and less than 19 years old. The community health students had a high knowledge level (61.2%) and a high attitude level (64%) towards the effect of solid waste on community health. Internet accessibility, information accessibility, learning about solid waste management, performing solid waste management activities, types of solid waste management activities, age group and education level were significantly associated with the knowledge and attitude level of community health students. To conclude, this study revealed that community health educational design would help the community health students to contribute their proficient knowledge and attitude to the Myanmar rural communities towards solid waste management. IMPLICATION OF THESIS. The findings can be used as evident information for upgrading the program structure and learning activities to cultivate the environmental health concerned among community health students. The significant factors found in this study would be the strategic issues for the university planning to enhance educational system performance.