Safety Practice and Associated Factors among Waste Handlers at Selected Government Hospitals in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia, 2021 G.C: institutional based cross- sectional study. Author: Abdinasir Abdilahi Mahamed Abstract Background: Healthcare waste is produced from various therapeutic procedures in hospitals, such as chemotherapy, dialysis, surgery, delivery, resection of gangrenous organs, autopsy, biopsy, injections and most of wastes are toxic, harmful, carcinogenic, and infectious materials. Medical Waste handlers faced massive exposure to hazardous wastes and occupational accidents as a result of manual handling of waste and working under unfavorable conditions. There are limited studies and updated information concerning these issues in the country. To fill the gap this study was intended to assess safety practice and associated factors among waste handlers at public hospitals in Somali Region, Ethiopia, 2021. Method: An institutional based cross- sectional study was carried out among 417 waste handlers in selected public hospitals from 15 June to 15 July 2021. Data were collected from respondents by using computer generated simple random sampling technique with proportional allocation of size employed to each hospital. Data were collected using face to face interview. The collected data were entered into the computer using Epi- data 3.1 software and was exported to SPSS 20 for analysis. Logistic regression model was carried out for analysis to identify independent predictors at p-value 0.25. Result: The proportion of current safe practice among public hospital waste handlers was found to be 38.2% (95% CI; 33.2, 43.1). Good availability of safety materials (AOR=9.3; 95% CI: 5, 17.2), Good knowledge 7.2 (AOR=7.2; 95% CI: 3.7, 14), Positive attitude (AOR: 5.4; 95% CI: 2.53, 11.47), and age group were significantly associated with safety practice. Conclusion: The proportion of safe practice among hospital waste handlers was found to be low compared to the national and international standards. Having good knowledge, positive attitude, good supply of safety materials and age group are the determinant factors for safety practice. To provide good safety practice adequate professional support and supervision should be in place to increase their knowledge about safety precautions and similarly providing enough safety materials is recommended to strength adherence to safety practice among hospital waste handlers. Key Words: Safety Practice, Determinant Factors, Waste Handlers, Government hospitals, Somali Region, Ethiopia.