Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Abattoir Workers Towards Waste Management in Slaughterhouses in Kampala City, Uganda.

Background: The effective management of abattoir waste is crucial for environmental protection and public health. The existing poor waste management and related effects can be caused by insufficient knowledge and bad attitudes of the stakeholders involved in abattoir operations. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of abattoir workers regarding waste management in the Wambizzi and Kalerwe abattoirs in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: A mixed method cross-sectional design utilising qualitative and quantitative methods. The data collection involved questionnaires among 250 workers, 2 observational checklists, 12 key informant interviewees (KIIs), and 8 focus group discussion groups (FGDs). Study participants for quantitative research were recruited using a stratified random sampling technique and data analysed descriptively while purposive sampling was used for KIIs and FGDs and data analysed thematically.

Results: The study found that 71.6% of workers had good knowledge of abattoir waste management, although gaps in waste sorting were identified. Additionally, 71.2% of workers had positive attitudes towards waste management. However, challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, poor abattoir design, and inconsistent waste collection, are prevalent. Despite these challenges, the workers demonstrated good practices, with 50.4% exhibiting effective waste management. From qualitative findings, existence of internal rules and regulations on waste management with penalties and punishments was also responsible for abattoir workers' practices towards abattoir waste management.

Conclusion and recommendations: This study highlights the need for improved waste sorting knowledge, enhanced infrastructure, and logistical support since there was a disconnect between survey results and actual practices. Future research should explore the impact of long-term benefits of infrastructure improvements on waste management efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of addressing both knowledge and practical challenges in achieving sustainable waste management in abattoirs.