Student Abuse in Medical Colleges of Karachi, a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Medical students are suspected to be the most compassionate, warm hearted and devoted students to their profession. In the process of cultivating future doctors any bad impact to their personalization may lead to a decrease in self-esteem, spirits and positive mood. Objective: The following study is conducted to make an estimation of different types of abuse that medical students are facing in Medical universities of Karachi. Furthermore, this study also intends to analyze which type of abuse is more prevalent and if the universities have a complaint department for taking a proper action against abuse or not. Material & Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in private and government medical colleges of Karachi, Sindh Pakistan, in the months of June and July 2014. Data collection was based on random data sampling comprising of 250 subjects, which included male and female students between the ages of 20-25 years. Results: According to our study's findings, about 47.47% of abuse is seen in medical colleges of Karachi. Among those who had faced bullying or harassment, 38.44% reported that they had experienced verbal abuse, 54.76% reported academic abuse, 6.9% faced physical abuse, and 18.56% faced sexual abuse. There was no reported harassment cell found in medical colleges of Karachi and hence, no one has ever taken authority. Conclusion: Therefore, it has been concluded that mistreatment and abuse are common occurrences in our medical colleges. This has found to be very adverse for learning, determination and the self-confidence of our medical students and for a futuristic personality of a doctor as well.