Workplace violence and associated factors among healthcare professionals in public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Workplace violence has emerged as a global problem that affects all nations, workplaces, and occupational categories. The health sector accounts for more than one-third of all workplace violence worldwide. There is very little information available in Ethiopia about workplace violence affecting healthcare professionals. This study aims to identify key associated factors of workplace violence to inform future evidence-based interventions and policy development. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of workplace violence and associated factors among healthcare professionals working in selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2023, among 599 randomly selected healthcare professionals working at four referral hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via a multistage sampling technique. Data was collected via a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire adapted from a standard questionnaire. The data were coded and entered into EPI Information version 7 and exported to SPSS V.20.0 software for analysis. A frequency table was used to summarize the data. To identify factors associated with workplace violence, a binary logistic regression model in which the degree of association for variables was assessed via adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CIs and p values ≤ 0.05 was used. RESULT: The prevalence of experiencing at least one type of workplace violence (physical, verbal, bullying, or sexual) in the previous year was 59.4% (95% CI = 55.6-63.1). The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between workplace violence and female sex (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.04-2.34, p = 0.033), pharmacist profession (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.15-7.33, p = 0.025), routine direct physical contact with patients (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.12-4.29, p = 0.022), emergency work starting (AOR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.02-6.15, p = 0.045), and witnessing incidents of physical violence (AOR = 10.1, 95% CI = 5.75-17.59, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high prevalence of workplace violence among health care professionals working in government hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Healthcare facilities should prioritize the establishment of comprehensive health and safety programs focused on the prevention and management of workplace violence, with particular attention given to the most vulnerable groups. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.