Sexual Harassment in Clinical Practice—A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses and Nursing Students in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Introduction Sexual harassment (SH) at the workplace is a globally discussed topic and one deserving of scrutiny. It is an issue that is often avoided although around 25% of nurses worldwide have experienced some form of SH at their workplace. Consequences of SH at workplaces can be very serious and an occupation hazard for nurses around the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa there is also a need for more studies in the field. Objective The overall aim was to determine the prevalence, types, and consequences of sexual harassment among nurses and nursing students at a regional university hospital in Tanzania. Methods The study has a cross-sectional design. A study specific questionnaire was distributed to a total of 200 nurses and nursing students. Descriptive statistics were used for calculation of frequencies, prevalence, including gender differences, types, and consequences of sexual harassment. Results The result show that 9.6% of the participants had experienced some form of SH at their workplace. Regarding the female nurses and students, 10.5% had been sexually harassed at work, whereas the number for males was 7.8%, but 36% knew about a friend who had been sexually harassed. The most common perpetrator were physicians. The victims of SH were uncomfortable going back to work, felt ashamed and angry. Conclusions In conclusion, nearly 10% of the participants had been exposed to sexual harassment. However, an even greater number of victims was found when including by proxy victims of sexual harassment. SH can become a serious occupational hazard and stigmatization for nurses. Enhanced knowledge is needed, and hospitals and medical colleges should emphasize their possibilities to give support and assistance to the victims of SH. Education about SH in all levels and prevention methods should also be emphasized.

Loss of Individual and Social Identity: Consequences of Sexual Harassment of Iranian Nurses in the Workplace

“…This refers to the psychological problems nurses face because of the negative consequences of sexual harassment in the workplace. Several studies, including this one, have found that sexual harassment can have negative psychological effects such as mental health disorders ( Nielsen et al, 2010 ; Ali and Ezz El Rigal, 2019 ), sadness, shame, and anger ( Tollstern Landin et al, 2020 ). Psychological imbalances can cause severe negative emotions and fear in nurses ( Nielsen et al, 2017 ; Kim et al, 2018 ).…”

“…According to Kahsay et al (2020) , the frequency of sexual harassment among nurses ranges from 10 to 87.5%, with patients (46%) being the most common source. Tollstern Landin et al (2020) discovered that in Tanzania, Africa, nearly 10% of nurses and nursing students were sexually harassed, with “sexual jokes and comment” (61.3%) and “unwelcome touching and hugging” (61.3%) being the most common forms of sexual harassment (48.4%). The study also revealed that sexual harassment in the workplace could be extremely dangerous, posing a serious job risk and stigma for nurses ( Tollstern Landin et al, 2020 ).…”

“… Tollstern Landin et al (2020) discovered that in Tanzania, Africa, nearly 10% of nurses and nursing students were sexually harassed, with “sexual jokes and comment” (61.3%) and “unwelcome touching and hugging” (61.3%) being the most common forms of sexual harassment (48.4%). The study also revealed that sexual harassment in the workplace could be extremely dangerous, posing a serious job risk and stigma for nurses ( Tollstern Landin et al, 2020 ). Sexual harassment is defined as a workplace problem that causes shame or humiliation, impairs the nurse’s ability to do the right thing, lowers the quality of work life, and endangers the well-being of victims.…”

“…Therefore, as a serious occupational risk, sexual harassment can cause psychological complications for nurses and reduce psychological complications for nurses and reduce patient care ( Nielsen et al, 2017 ; Kim et al, 2018 ). As a result, more understanding of the consequences of sexual harassment in nurses is required in order to support and assist sexually harassed victims ( Tollstern Landin et al, 2020 ). As an obvious part of the problems of organizational-professional culture, it is necessary to take basic measures to manage inappropriate sexual behaviors and to prevent sexual harassment among nurses ( Nielsen et al, 2017 ).…”

Sexual harassment and organisational silencing in nursing: a cross-sectional study in Greece

“…Additionally, research articles have shown that female nurses compared with male nurses disproportionally deal with sexual harassment in clinical settings, with figures showing an increasing trend. 23 This study aims at filling this crucial gap and exploring the prevalence of sexual harassment of female nurses in the Greek NHS and the frequency of reporting/not reporting sexual harassment.…”