Prevalence and factors associated with workplace violence against health workers in tertiary hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: Workplace violence poses global health threats, endangering everyone in their places of work which is considered a public health hazard. Particularly in developing countries, assaults in the workplace results in stress, low self-esteem, and emotional instability leading to lack of effective and efficient performance of duties among workers in their places of work. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with workplace violence against health workers in tertiary hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional, conducted from December 2015 to May 2016, among 180 health workers selected using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a set of pre-tested interviewer administered, semi-structured questionnaire, and were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20 statistical package. Result: The mean age of the respondents was 26.14 ± 7.65 years. Seventy four (38.7%) of the respondents were within the age range of 30-39years.Majority 104 (54.5%) of the respondents were males. This study obtained a prevalence of physical violence of 33(18.3%). The doctors had the highest prevalence 12(23.1%). Most 23(65%) of the perpetrators of violence were patient relatives due to dissatisfaction with hospital waiting time (81.8%). Another factor associated with violence was lack of existing policies to protect workers which was reported among the respondents12 (37.1%). Conclusion: The study demonstrated a high prevalence of workplace violence among health workers in tertiary hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria. The services in the healthcare facility should be improved upon to minimize wasting time during health service provision.