Abstract
Background & Aims: Primary healthcare services aim to promote health and prevent health problems. However, waste generated from primary healthcare centers (PHC) potentially harmful to public health and the environment. The aim of this study was to assess wastes management of these centers.

Methods: The data of this observational – cross-sectional study were collected from the available primary healthcare centers in Al-Baha city, Saudi Arabia (N=15 PHC centers). Data collected using standardized questionnaire and observations.

Results: Contaminated sharp and pharmaceuticals pressurized wastes were generated in all PHC centers. About 14 (93.3%) and 13 (86.7%) of the centers were generating wastes of live attenuated vaccines vials and articles contaminated with blood, respectively. Eight (53.6%) of the centers generated more than 3 kg per day of contaminated sharps, followed by; live and attenuated vaccines’ vials. Eleven (73.3%) and 7 (46.7%) of the PHC centers produces 1 to 3 kg of hazardous wastes per day of articles contaminated with blood and waste contaminated with excretion, respectively. All health centers except one were practicing waste segregation properly, and 2 (13.4%) of the centers lacked waste storage method. A total of 5 (33.5%) centers also did not practice any type of dis infection, 7 (46.7%) and 9 (60.0%) of these centers did not have medical waste plan, nor specification for the collection and handling procedures of their medical wastes, respectively. The most common methods used for medical waste packaging were bags (68.8%) and plastic containers (18.8%).

Conclusion: Medical waste management practices were found to be deficient and their amendment highly recommended.

Key words: Biohazards Wastes, Medical Waste, Primary Health Care, Public Health, Saudi Arabia