The inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study
| Items | Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
| Topics | Individual, system and policy-level factors affecting the health of MWHs in LMICs. | Individual, system and policy-level factors affecting the health of medical waste handlers and health risks experienced by MWHs in upper middle and high-income countries. |
| Health risks experienced by MWHs. | ||
| Types of studies | Studies that apply semistructured and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions, direct observations or semistructured questionnaires which permit free texts. | Protocols, reviews, editorials, letters to editors, commentaries, conference abstract and posters, and opinion pieces. |
| Studies that apply mixed methods which lack accounts or quotes of study participants or do not provide accounts/quotes of study participants. | ||
| Participants | (1) MWHs of all age groups, including children from 10 years and above; (2) both male and female garbage workers; (3) waste pickers who search medical waste before or after the final disposal; (4) scavengers who search medical wastes before or after the final disposal. | Children below 10 years of age. |
| MWHs having severe pre-existing health risks before they became involved in MWM. | ||
| Settings | Waste disposal sites, medical research institutes and healthcare facilities, and disposal sites in LMICs. | Upper middle and high-income countries. |
| Date range | 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2021 | Published prior to July 2011. |
| Language | English | Excluded studies published in languages other than English. |
LMIC, low and middle-income country; MWH, medical waste handler; MWM, medical waste management.