Abstract
Background: The disposal of waste remains a critical issue in developing countries, exacerbated by insufficient understanding of waste generation. In India, rapid and unplanned urbanisation has led to significant environmental degradation, compounding the challenges of managing solid, liquid, and toxic waste. Aims: The aim of the study is to assess the level of knowledge among house helpers regarding proper disposal of household waste. Method: A quantitative research survey assessed house helpers' knowledge on proper household waste disposal to develop an informational pamphlet for selected housing societies. A total of 30 house helpers were chosen through purposive sampling, and a semi-structured questionnaire evaluated their knowledge on this issue. Results: Results indicated that 50% of house helpers possess poor knowledge, while another 50% have average knowledge about proper household waste disposal. The mean knowledge score was 6.76 with a standard deviation of 2.11. A significant association was found between knowledge and demographic variables, particularly educational status, with a χ² value of 7.624 and a p-value of 0.022 at the 0.05 significance level. Conclusion: The majority of respondents had poor knowledge about proper disposal of household waste.
Keywords: Knowledge; household waste; house helpers; housing society.