Mothers’ Knowledge and Practices regarding Safe Disposal of Electronic Waste

Shendi, Heba El-desoki; RElkazeh, Entisa Aboelghite Elhossiny; Mohamed, Rabeaa Abd-Rabo; Fathy, Dalia Mohammed

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2025.435953

Mothers’ Knowledge and Practices regarding Safe Disposal of Electronic Waste

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Demonstrator o f Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Kafr El- sheikh University

² Professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University

³ Assisst.Prof. of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University

⁴ Lecture of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Kafr El-sheikh University, Egyp

10.21608/tsnj.2025.435953

Abstract

Background: Electronic wastes have potential hazards due to their composition
which cause systemic diseases in the body. Mothers play a pivotal role in safe
handling and disposal to protect health of the community members from bad
effect of electronic waste. Aim: Assess the mothers’ knowledge and practices
regarding safe disposal of electronic waste. Design: A descriptive research
design. Setting: Two Maternal and Child Health Care Centers (MCH) in Tanta
city. Subjects: A sample of (650 mothers) was selected randomly from the
previously mentioned settings. Tools: Tool (I): Part (1): Mothers socio-
demographic data. Part (2): Knowledge of mothers, includes: General
information about electronic waste, its risks, safe disposal and recycling. Tool
(II): Self-reported practices of mothers regarding electronic waste management,
contained 26 statements include: practices that mothers follow to deal with and
to dispose of electronic waste. Results: There were 84.9% and 97.2% of
mothers had low level of knowledge regarding safe disposal and recycling of
electronic waste total score. Moreover, 94.2% and 99.7% of mothers had
unsatisfactory practices regarding practices that mothers follow to deal with and
to dispose of electronic waste. Conclusion: Majority of studied mothers had low
level of knowledge as well as, unsatisfactory level of practice. There was a
significant positive correlation between studied mothers’ total score of
knowledge and their total score of practices regarding safe disposal of electronic
waste. Recommendations: health authorities should plan and develope health
classes for all mothers to increase their knowledge and enhance their practices
regarding safe disposal of electronic waste.