Physical assault of health workers by mentally ill patients in a tertiary hospital in north-central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence occurs globally and it is very common in the health sector especially among mental health workers. A good understanding of the factors associated with physical assault is essential in its prevention and control. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of physical assault and associated factors among mental health workers in the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among staff of the Psychiatric Department of the Jos  University Teaching Hospital, Jos. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data which was cleaned, processed and analysed using Epi Info version 3.5.4. Bivariate analysis was done using Chi square  statistical test at 95% confidence interval with a p-value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Among the respondents, 33 (60.0%) had been attacked by a patient before with 21 (38.2%) of the attacks occurring  within the last 12 months. The nurses 18 (75.0%) were the health workers mostly assaulted in the department.  Respondents with longer duration of work experience were also more likely to be assaulted. Unfortunately, majority  of the respondents 37 (67.3%) indicated that they were not aware of any channel available for reporting physical assault and 34 (64.8%) had no knowledge of any support system available to victims of physical assault in the department.
Conclusion: A high proportion of mental health workers of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos had experienced physical assault at work by mentally ill patients. Efforts should be geared towards periodic training of psychiatric health workers on violence prevention and support systems should be made available to health workers when physically assaulted by ill patients.