DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG FEMALE NURSES: PREVALENCE, EFFECTS, AND UNDERLYING FACTORS

Abstract

Violence against women is a considerable worldwide problem with huge economic and social costs. There is a paucity of research investigating the problem in the nursing profession. The study aim was to measure the magnitude of domestic violence among female nurses, and determine the underlying factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted in two general hospitals (A and B) on a consecutive sample on 324 female nurses. A self-administered questionnaire including the Women Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) and the Women's Experience with Battering (WEB) scale was used in data
collection.
Results: Female nurses' age ranged between 23 and 59 years, mostly diploma female nurses (86.1%). Exposure to domestic violence was found among 50.6% of them, and 59.6% had high violence effects. Only 21.9% previously reported husband violence. While the work of the nurse was the third in rank as a cause of
domestic violence.
In conclusion, female nurses have a high prevalence of domestic violence, with significant impact on their psych. In addition to personal factors as age and husband education, certain work-related factors may contribute to this violence such as overtime and shift work. The study recommends educational programs to increase female nurses' awareness about domestic violence and the appropriate measures for prevention and management. Further research is proposed to examine the effect of such educational interventions on the prevalence of domestic violence among female nurses.