Workplace Violence and Institutional Safety Factors among Female Healthcare Professionals in Western India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
Workplace violence, Female healthcare professionals, Occupational safety, Hospital security, Workplace harassmentAbstract
Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is a significant occupational hazard among healthcare professionals, with female healthcare workers facing unique safety challenges. Despite increasing reports of violence in healthcare settings in India, there is limited evidence on gender-specific safety vulnerabilities and institutional determinants influencing workplace violence. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, types, and determinants of workplace violence and to evaluate safety and security measures among female healthcare professionals in a tertiary care setting. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to September 2025 among 77 female healthcare professionals in a tertiary care hospital and a private clinic in an urban district in western India. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, and associations were assessed using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: More than half of the participants (55.8%) reported experiencing workplace violence, with verbal abuse being the most common form (76.7%). Approximately half of the affected participants (51.2%) reported incidents, while underreporting was mainly attributed to the perception that no action would be taken (52.4%). A majority perceived CCTV surveillance as inadequate (63.6%). Inadequate CCTV surveillance and lack of round-the-clock security personnel were significant institutional determinants of workplace violence. Conclusion: Workplace violence is highly prevalent among female healthcare professionals, with significant gender-sensitive safety gaps in institutional security measures and reporting mechanisms. Strengthening hospital security infrastructure, ensuring institutional accountability, and implementing gender-responsive workplace policies are essential to improve safety.
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The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available. It can be made available from the corresponding author.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ijaj Salimbhai Aevara (Author); Nirmal Jyoti Jyotsana (Corresponding Author); Niraj Pandit, Sanjana Ganesh Jadhav, Maulikbhai Shambhubhai Desai (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
