Violence against health care workers in rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan

Authors

  • Saleema Arif APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Lubna Ansari Baig APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Shiraz Shaikh APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Ibrahim Hashmi APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Zaini Sarwar Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  • Zarrukh Ali Baig Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.3120

Abstract

Objective: To determine the magnitude of violence against healthcare workers in a rural setting, and the consequences of this violence on their personal and professional lives.

Method: The descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 rural districts of the Sindh province of Pakistan from February to December 2019, and comprised healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, support staff and field workers. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 22

Results: Of the 1622 subjects, 929(57.3%) were males and 693(42.7%) were females. The overall mean age was 35.55+/-10.05 years. The largest cluster was that of doctors 396(24.4%), followed by technicians 202(12.5%). Overall, 522(32.2%) subjects had a professional experience of 1-5 years. Violence at workplace in any form was experienced by 693(42.7%) subjects. Verbal violence had been experienced by 396(24.4%) subjects, while 228(14.1%) had witnessed it. The corresponding numbers for physical violence were 122(7.5%) and 22(1.4%). Verbal violence was more prevalent compared to physical violence (p<0.01). The major effect was that the healthcare workers remained alert 537(33.1%), felt frustrated 524(32.3%) and disturbed 503(31%). Also, 272(16.8%) subjects were planning to migrate or quit the profession.

Conclusion: Violence was found to be a significant issue in rural Sindh.

Key Words: Violence, Healthcare, Danger, Rural, Pakistan, Sindh.

Author Biographies

Saleema Arif , APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

Lecturer APPNA Institute of Public Health 

Shiraz Shaikh, APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

APPNA Institute of Public Health, JInnah Sindh Medical University 

Ibrahim Hashmi, APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

APPNA Institute of Public Health, JInnah SIndh Medical 

Zaini Sarwar, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

Staff Physician

Zarrukh Ali Baig, Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Senior Resident General  SUrgery 

Published

2022-10-15

How to Cite

Arif, S. ., Baig, L. A., Shaikh, S., Hashmi, I., Sarwar, Z., & Baig, Z. A. (2022). Violence against health care workers in rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 72(11), 2150–2153. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.3120

Issue

Section

Original Article