Workplace Sexual Harassment Of Nurses And Midwives In Healthcare Facilities In The Central Region Of Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the prevalence and determinants of workplace sexual harassment (WSH) against nurses and midwives in the Central Region of Ghana. Using a mixed methods design, an adapted questionnaire was used to collect data (online) from 1494 nurses and midwives, recruited through a census technique, while purposive approaches were used to obtain qualitative data through written narratives (13) and interviews (11). Quantitative data were analysed using binary logistic regression and partial least squared structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA) was used to analyse qualitative data. Prevalence of WSH among the nurses and midwives was 43.6% with behavioural-list questions, and 22.6% with a direct question. Gender (aOR = 1.59, 95% C.I [1.23, 2.07]), work experience (aOR = 0.86, 95% C.I [0.80, 0.93]), marital status (aOR = 0.54, 95% C.I [0.41, 0.72]), and respondents’ work facility (aOR = 0.49, 95% C.I [0.36, 0.68]) predicted WSH. Among the dimensions of WSH, sexist behaviour (β = 1.09, 95%CI [0.62, 1.67], p = .001), and sexual coercion (β = 0.31, 95%CI [0.13, 0.51], p = .001) influenced victims’ health and safety. Besides, policy (β = 0.10, 95%CI [0.08, 0.13], p = .001) and sexual harassment climate [SHC] (β = -0.68, 95%CI [-0.78, -0.59], p = .001) influenced WSH. Moreover, policy moderated the relationship between SHC and WSH (β = 0.21, 95%CI [0.11, 0.32], p = .001). Also, the IPA showed that nurses and midwives experienced varied forms of WSH, often committed by physicians, nurses, patients, and patients’ relatives, which affected victims’ health and safety. Thus, managers of healthcare facilities in the region need to institute measures such as education, training, and policy to address the problem of WSH.