FEMALE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS EXPERIENCE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE GBV PREPAREDNESS AND COMPETENCE IN INDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF VICTIMS A STUDY IN SELECTED HOSPITALS OF NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

TITLE: Female Healthcare Professionals Experience of Gender Based Violence (GBV), Preparedness and Competence in Identification and Management of Victims: A Study in Selected Hospitals of Northern Nigeria. newlineBACKGROUND: Violence against women is a very pervasive global public health problem that has cut across all social strata and exist in all places a woman lives with no place or age considered slightly safe for a woman as even a newly born baby in the arms of her mother goes through barbaric experiences because of her gender such as female genital mutilation and the grown woman get abused by everyone including those expected to share love such as husbands and boyfriends. For the female healthcare professional, the consensus in the cycle of scholars was that they are actually swimming in a pool with abusers as even the very frail patient under their care abuses them. newlineAIM: The study was aimed at exploring female healthcare professionals experience of gender based violence (GBV) and their preparedness and competence in identification and management of victims in Northern Nigeria. newlineMATERIALS AND METHODS newlineDesign: Descriptive research design and narrative inquiry were used newlinePopulation: This comprises of the 802 female healthcare professionals working in the seven hospitals of Kano and Jigawa states of Northern Nigeria selected for the study. newlineSampling technique: Simple random sampling technique and stratified proportionate sampling techniques were used to select the 418 respondents for the study out of which majority (36.9%) were between the age range 26-31 years of age, 59.9% were married out of which 86.6% got married within the ages of 18-24 years. Nurses constitute 42% of the respondents. newlineData collection tool: Modified composite abuse scale, structured questionnaire and focused group discussion guide were used to collect data from the respondents. newlineData analysis: Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods such as chi square, ANOVA and Multiple regression newline newline newline newlineRESULTS: Findings f