Personal experiences and attitudes towards intimate partner violence in healthcare providers in Guyana.
BACKGROUND
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent throughout the world and is a devastating public health problem. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are tasked with treating victims of IPV but may be victims themselves. Guyana is a lower-middle income country in South America. This study sought to determine the knowledge and attitudes of Guyanese HCWs and their perceived barriers to providing care in addition to determining the prevalence of IPV victimization and perpetration among HCWs.


METHODS
HCWs at the only tertiary care hospital in the Guyana completed an anonymous survey that comprised 30 questions relating to IPV.


RESULTS
The survey was completed by 87.5% of eligible HCWs. Of the respondents, 81.8% were female, 49.9% had ever experienced abuse and 21% admitted to perpetrating violence. Multivariate analysis found that the age groups 31-40 years (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.6) and 41-50 years (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.7) had higher odds of accepting justification for physical violence, and so did nursing staff (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.4-13.1). Overall, 29.9% of HCWs accepted justification for physical violence in at least one of the named scenarios.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a high prevalence of IPV among HCWs and identifies prevailing attitudes regarding IPV. This knowledge is essential in developing effective, appropriate training programs and identifies a need to address IPV among the healthcare workforce.
Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, New Market Street, 314132, Georgetown, Guyana.
Vivienne
V
Mitchell
Kendra P
KP
Parekh
Stephan
S
Russ
Nicolas P
NP
Forget
Seth W
SW
Wright
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006172:Guyana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Attitude of health personnel; Caribbean; Domestic violence; Guyana; Spouse abuse; Women's health