Workplace violence and its associated factors among nurses working in public hospitals of eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is one of the global health concerns. Although nurses are the backbone of the health care provision, they are highly subjected to workplace violence in healthcare. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of evidence on the extent of workplace violence against nurses in Ethiopia in general and Eastern Ethiopia in particular. Hence, this study aimed to assess the extent of workplace violence against nurses and its associated factors among nurse professionals working at public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 nurses working in public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Nurses were recruited using a simple random sampling method at their workplace (health facilities). A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive, binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to declare significant association. RESULTS: Among the 620 estimated sample, 603(97.3%) of the nurses gave consent and completed the self-administered questionnaire. The prevalence of workplace violence against nurse professionals in the last 12 months was 64.0% (95%CI: 60.2-67.7%). Nurses who were working in surgical (AOR: 2.30, 95%CI: 1.01-5.26), psychiatric (AOR: 3.06, 95%CI: 1.11-8.46), emergency (AOR: 3.62, 95%CI: 1.46-8.98), and medical wards (AOR: 5.20, 95%CI: 2.40-11.27); being worried of workplace violence (AOR: 1.71, 95%CI: 1.09-2.69); witnessed of physical workplace violence (AOR: 5.31, 95%CI: 3.28-8.59); claimed "absence/not-aware" of reporting procedure on workplace violence (AOR: 2.24, 95%CI: 1.45-3.46); and claimed "absence/not-aware" of institutional policies against workplace violence (AOR: 2.68, 95%CI: 1.73-4.13) were factors associated with nurses' experience of workplace violence in eastern Ethiopia. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace violence against nurses was found to be unacceptably high in the study area (eastern Ethiopia). We suggest that stakeholders could work on early risk identification and management of violent incidents, establish violence reporting and sanction mechanisms using contextual strategies to prevent workplace violence against nurse professionals.

Workplace gender-based violence among female staff in public higher education institutions in eastern Ethiopia: Institution-based cross-sectional study.

Despite the global and local efforts, gender-based violence at workplaces has remained a major public health challenge and pervasive human rights violation worldwide. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research evidence on gender-based violence in higher educational institutions (HEIs). The main aim of this study was to assess workplace gender-based violence and its associated factors among female staff in public HEIs in eastern Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among female staff in public HEIs in eastern Ethiopia. Female staff (n = 391) were recruited using systematic sampling techniques from three HEIs. Data were collected by trained female data collectors using a structured pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. Collected data were entered into EpiData and exported to SPSS for analysis. Descriptive and logistic regression statistical analysis were carried out to compute frequencies and odds ratio at 95% confidence interval (CI). The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% CI was used to declare a significant association. Workplace gender-based violence among female staff at HEIs was 63.1% (95% CI: 58-68%). Being within the age group of 18-34 years (AOR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.02-2.85), being single (AOR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.32-3.80), divorced (AOR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.03-5.03), working the night shifts (AOR:5.73, 95% CI: 1.87-17.58), Being aware of the reporting procedures of violent incidents (AOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.01-2.49) and worried for being a victim of violence (AOR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.02-2.86) were the factors associated with workplace gender-based violence against female staff in the public HEIs. Workplace gender-based violence among female staff working in the selected public HEIs was found to be unacceptably high. Awareness-raising campaigns against gender-based violence and reporting procedures in case of violent incidents, enforcing existing policies, orientation to employees, safeguarding the night shift female workers, and survivor support services should be implemented by key stakeholders.

Indigenous herbal medicine use and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of indigenous herbal medicine use and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at public health facilities in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. DESIGN: A facility-based cross-sectional study design. SETTING: The study was conducted in seven public health facilities (one referral hospital, three urban and three rural health centres) in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, from October to November 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 628 pregnant women of any gestational age who had been on ANC follow-up at selected public health facilities were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of indigenous herbal medicine (users vs non-users) and associated factors. RESULTS: The study revealed that 47.8% (95% CI 43.8% to 51.6%) of pregnant women used herbal medicines. Lack of formal education (adjusted OR, AOR 5.47, 95% CI 2.40 to 12.46), primary level (AOR 4.74, 95% CI 2.15 to 10.44), housewives (AOR 4.15, 95% CI 1.83 to 9.37), number of ANC visits (AOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.27 to 5.25), insufficient knowledge (AOR 4.58, 95% CI 3.02 to 6.77) and favourable perception (AOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.77) were factors significantly associated with herbal medicine use. The most commonly used herbs were garden cress (Lepidium sativum) (32%), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) (25.2%), moringa (Moringa oleifera) (24.5%). Common indications were related to gastrointestinal problems, blood pressure and sugar. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of herbal medicine use is high (one in two pregnant women) and significantly associated with education level, occupation, ANC visits, knowledge and perceptions. The study's findings are helpful in advancing comprehension of herbal medicines using status, types and enforcing factors. It is essential that health facilities provide herbal counselling during ANC visits, and health regulatory bodies ought to raise awareness and implement interventions to lower the risks from over-the-counter herbal medicine use by pregnant women.