Abirha Mamush Gidey, Gebreslassie Kibrom Berhanu, Abera Gerezgiher Buruh, Tesfay Binyam Gebrehiwet, Mesele Fissha Brhane, Gebreanenia Fiseha Abadi, Weldu Kelali Goitom, Bahre Willi, Woldemariam Guesh Teklu
Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.
School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Front Public Health. 2025 Jun 26;13:1568264. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1568264. eCollection 2025.
Workplace violence has become a warning universal phenomenon, particularly affecting healthcare workers, especially nurses. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of workplace violence and its associated factors among nurses working in public hospitals in Northern Ethiopia.
A mixed-methods study was conducted at a hospital in Northern Ethiopia among 416 nurses using a self-administered questionnaire. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the participants. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. For the qualitative part, critical case purposive sampling was used to select respondents, and data were collected through face-to-face, in-depth interviews. Finally, inductive thematic analysis was performed on the data using ATLAS.ti 23.
The prevalence of workplace violence among nurses in the last 12 months was 62.8% (95% CI, 57.5-76.3). Working in the emergency department was associated with a significantly increased risk (AOR = 4.97, 95% CI: 1.10-22.70, = 0.039). Conversely, being married (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.34-0.98, = 0.046) and having a good work performance (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36-0.96, = 0.03) were associated with a significantly decreased risk. Additionally, having 1-5 staff members in the same working area (AOR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.12-10.40, = 0.030) and working alone (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.34-4.10, = 0.003) were significant factors. Nurses perceived understaffing, shortage of drugs and supplies, lack of security, and lack of management attention to workplace violence as the main reasons behind these incidents.
Workplace violence among nurses was found to be significantly high in the study area. We recommend that it is essential for the health sector to establish a strong system for preventing and reporting incidents of workplace violence by involving medical personnel.
工作场所暴力已成为一种普遍存在的警示现象，尤其影响医护人员，特别是护士。本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚北部公立医院护士工作场所暴力的患病率及其相关因素。
在埃塞俄比亚北部的一家医院对416名护士进行了一项混合方法研究，使用自填式问卷。采用简单随机抽样技术选取参与者。使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）27版进行描述性、双变量和多变量逻辑回归分析。对于定性部分，采用关键案例目的抽样法选取受访者，并通过面对面深入访谈收集数据。最后，使用ATLAS.ti 23对数据进行归纳主题分析。
过去12个月护士工作场所暴力的患病率为62.8%（95%置信区间，57.5 - 76.3）。在急诊科工作与风险显著增加相关（调整后比值比[AOR]=4.97，95%置信区间：1.10 - 22.70，P = 0.039）。相反，已婚（AOR = 0.58，95%置信区间：0.34 - 0.98，P = 0.046）和工作表现良好（AOR = 0.59，95%置信区间：0.36 - 0.96，P = 0.03）与风险显著降低相关。此外，同一工作区域有1 - 5名工作人员（AOR = 3.40，95%置信区间：1.12 - 10.40，P = 0.030）和独自工作（AOR = 2.34，95%置信区间：1.34 - 4.10，P = 0.003）是重要因素。护士认为人员不足、药品和物资短缺、缺乏安全保障以及管理层对工作场所暴力缺乏关注是这些事件背后的主要原因。
研究区域内护士工作场所暴力发生率显著较高。我们建议卫生部门必须建立一个强有力的系统，通过让医务人员参与来预防和报告工作场所暴力事件。
