Lifetime prevalence of emotional/psychological abuse among qualified female healthcare providers

The purpose was to determine the lifetime prevalence of emotional/psychological abuse among married female healthcare providers in tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on in a sample of 350 married female nurses and doctors, from three tertiary healthcare hospitals (one public and two private). The self administered modified truncated WHO Multi-country questionnaire was used. Descriptive and univariate analysis was performed.

Of the total sample of 350 female married healthcare providers, 97.7% (n= 342) were reported with one or more forms of domestic violence (DV) at some point in their married life, whereby 62.6% (n=214) lifetime prevalence of emotional abuse was found due to any form of violence. The univariate analysis showed that those female who had done their diploma were more prone to emotional abuse 46.7% (n=100) and, nurses experienced more emotional abuse 57.9% (n=124) in their life than doctors. There was a significant difference of emotional abuse among those participants’ husband who used alcohol (p=0.009).

The most common responses against emotional abuse were: 62% (n=212,) verbally fighting back, 15.2% (n=52) keeping quiet, 27.2% (n=93) talking to husband, family/friends, and 5.8% (n=20) attempting suicide.

DV leads to emotional scars and should be considered as an inhuman act. Its prevalence exists in every culture but more in underdeveloped, economically challenged cultures. It is frequent among nurses. Socio-demographic factors of women have been identified as risk factor. Future research should investigate emotional abuse patterns in not only for professional women but also for housewives