Perceived Awareness Versus Actual Knowledge of E-Waste and Its Disposal Practices Among Medical Students at a Tertiary Care Teaching Institution in Uttar Pradesh, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2026.v38i03.014Keywords:
Electronic Waste Management, Hazardous Waste, Medical Students, Public Health, Waste ManagementAbstract
Introduction: The rapid expansion of electric devices has subsequently led to rise in e-waste, posing significant environmental and public health challenges due to hazardous substances and unsafe disposal practices. Medical students represent an important group as future public health professionals, still evidence on their objective knowledge and practices remains limited.
Objective: To assess perceived awareness, actual knowledge, and disposal practices related to e-waste among medical students.
Methods: It’s a cross-sectional study among medical students in Uttar Pradesh, India using a pretested questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, awareness, knowledge, perceptions, and disposal practices of e-waste. Data were analysed using descriptive and non-parametric tests. McNemar test was used for differences between perceived and actual knowledge, and Spearman’s correlation for relationship between knowledge and disposal practices. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Among 256 medical students, self-reported awareness of e-waste was high (91.8%); however, objective knowledge was limited across domains, including hazardous materials (12.1%), health risks (5.9%), environmental effects (9.8%), and regulatory provisions (0.8%). A substantial gap between perceived and actual knowledge was observed across all domains (p < 0.001). Unsafe disposal practices were common, particularly batteries with domestic garbage (51.2%). A weak positive correlation of borderline statistical significance was observed between knowledge and safe disposal practices (Spearman’s ρ = 0.125; p = 0.045).
Conclusions: Despite higher awareness, knowledge gaps and unsafe methods of disposing e-wastes among the students was prevalent. Strengthening environmental competencies in education and establishing institutional e-waste management mechanisms is essential to mitigate long-term environmental and public health risks.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anubhav Agrawal (Author); Dr Reema Kumari (Corresponding Author)
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