Workplace Violence against Female Nurses in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt: an Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) against nurses becomes a global problem with negative sequele on healthcare providers. Objectives: to evaluate the prevalence of WPV against Egyptian female nurses and to determine its sociodemographic and occupational risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at different level hospitals in Menoufia governorate in Egypt. A total of 1023 nurses were included, with response rate (94.82%): Nine hundred and seventy nurses. They worked on primary (n=120), secondary (n=380) and tertiary (n=470) level of hospitals. Predesigned data collection sheet was prepared to record WPV and its risk factors. Results: The prevalence of WPV was estimated to affect 71.24% of the studied nurses. They were exposed to verbal, physical or sexual assault during their professional career (60.31%, 8.66% and 14.12%; respectively). Also, significant association between the public or tertiary hospital where the participants worked and WPV was found (85.38% and 52.96%; respectively). Risk factors for WPV included working in Emergency department, night shift workers, younger aged nurses and work experience less than 15 years. Perpetrators of violence were in decreasing order of frequency patients’ relatives (68.88%), patients (40.38%) followed by the head of the work (29.38%) and finally colleagues (18.09%). Conclusion: Increased WPV against female nurses become tragic in healthcare settings. Ultimate implementation of protective interventions and behavioral education sessions of nurses is needed.