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Abstract Healthcare waste poses significant risks to human health and the environment when improperly managed. In low-income countries such as Ethiopia, healthcare waste management remains a major public health concern, particularly among waste handlers who are directly exposed during waste handling processes. This study aimed to assess healthcare waste management practices, associated factors, and barriers among waste handlers in healthcare facilities in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

Discussion This is a two-arm, cluster randomised controlled trial conducted in rural Northwest Ethiopia to assess the effect of handwashing with water and wood ash on microbial contamination of hands. It was found that handwashing with water and wood ash is significantly better in reducing the concentration of E. coli than washing hands with plain water alone. This suggests that using locally available handwashing agents such as wood ash can help to reduce hand contamination with faecal coliforms.