The Risk Factors for Workplace Violence Against Nurses and the Prevention Strategies in Public Health Facilities in Anambra State

Abstract

Aim: This study determined the risk factors of workplace violence against nurses and the prevention strategies in public health facilities in Anambra State. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted in conducting the study among nurses working at public secondary and tertiary levels of care facilities in Anambra State. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 5 facilities and a sample size of two hundred and ninety-two nurses. The research instrument was adapted from the WHO standardized questionnaire on workplace violence and the Statistical Software Package version 16.0 was employed for the data analysis. Results: The results revealed that the highest risk factor for the nurses’ experience of workplace violence was staff shortage followed by prolonged waiting time and reporting workplace violence is the highest preventive strategy for workplace violence. Conclusion: The menace of workplace violence against nurses will be curtailed by mitigating the risk factors and implementing preventive strategies.