Sexual Harassment towards Nurses in Pakistan: Are we Safe?

Background: Sexual harassment towards nurses has negative consequences, both for the nurses and for the health care organizations.Female nurses are more at risk for sexual violence because their caring a�itude is misperceived by male patients as sexual signals.This study aimed to explore the prevalence of sexual harassment towards nurses. Method:A descriptive Cross-sectional study was conducted with 458 registered nurses from all the Inpatient units and the Emergency departments of two government and two private healthcare se�ings in Karachi, Pakistan.The data was collected through a tool known as "workplace violence in the health sector country case studies research instrument" (2003). Results:The study found 10% prevalence of sexual harassment.Sexual harassment was almost the same at both the government and private healthcare se�ings.The common perpetrators were found to be patients' relatives (47.8%) and the staff members (32.6%).Nurses, who were between 19 and 29 years of age, were mostly the victims ofsexual harassment. Conclusion:Considering the study findings, it is recommended that acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors for patients and their relatives must be communicated very clearly in the hospitals, so that they may get aware of and practice acceptable behaviors.Moreover, a structured reporting system should be formulated in the private and government health care organizations.