Prevalence, forms and impact of violence towards healthcare workers during the COVID – 19 pandemic in Malawi: a cross sectional study
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Date
2021-11-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Type of study: Multi – centre, descriptive, cross sectional study
Problem to be studied: Since the outbreak of Covid – 19, there are increasing
reports of violence against healthcare workers including
physical assault, verbal abuse, housing discrimination,
and devaluation of social standing. In Malawi, violence is
fueled by rumours and panic over the pandemic amidst
rising number of cases and deaths in second and third
waves of disease. Despite this, no studies have
accurately determined the prevalence of violence, its
forms and impact on the personal and professional lives
of healthcare workers. Unless the burden and extent of
violence against healthcare workers as a result of the
COVID – 19 pandemic is characterized, no effective
policy or legal interventions can be mounted to stem the
problem which threatens to undermine the Malawi public
health sector response to COVID – 19. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to
estimate the prevalence of violence against healthcare
workers during the first, second and third waves of
COVID – 19 pandemic in Malawi, classify the forms of
this violence and determine the impact on the personal
and professional lives of those affected. The specific objectives are:
i. To estimate the prevalence of violence against healthcare
workers during the COVID – 19 pandemic. To classify the forms of violence experienced by
healthcare workers during the COVID – 19
pandemic.To determine the perpetrators of violence against
healthcare workers during the COVID – 19 pandemic
including patients, guardians/relatives of patients, co –
workers or community members.To evaluate predictors for violence against healthcare
workers during the COVID – 19 pandemic.To determine the impact of violence on the personal and
professional lives of healthcare workers during the
COVID – 19 pandemic. :Methodology: This is a multi – centre, descriptive, cross
sectional study. The study population will be doctors,
clinical officers, nurses, ambulance drivers, health
surveillance assistants and hospitalpatient attendants
who work at the selected health facilities. Stratified
sampling technique based on healthcare worker
occupation will be used to select participants. Data will be
collected using interviewer administeredself-administered
standardized questionnaires. These questionnaires will
be uploaded into an open data kit (ODK) system. Data
will be entered into an electronic database and analysed
using STATA version 13.
Expected findings and dissemination: We will estimate the prevalence of violence
towards healthcare workers at the workplace and in the
community. We will describe the forms, perpetrators and
risk factors of violence. We will also describe the impact
of violence on the personal and professional lives of
healthcare workers. The results of this study will be
shared with Ministry of Health, participating institutions,and organizations representing healthcare workers
including the Nurses Council of Malawi, the Society of
Medical Doctors, the Medical Council of Malawi, with
COMREC and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences.
We will also present findings at local, regional and
international conferences, and publish in peer – reviewed
journals.