Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Introduction Intimate partner violence is a highly prevalent, serious, sensitive, growing, and
preventable public health problem. Healthcare professionals must be ready to recognize
victims and to offer essential assistance to survivors who have been harmed by intimate
partner violence since they are likely to be the trusted public health workers. However, there
is a scarcity of evidence showing health care providers‘ perceived readiness to identify and
manage intimate partner violence in the study area.
Objective: The study aimed to assess the perceived readiness and associated factors among
health care providers who work at public hospitals in Kembeta, Tembaro Zone, South,
Ethiopia, 2022.
Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 health care
providers working in Kembeta Tembaro zone public hospitals from May to June, 2022. A
structured self-administered questionnaire based on the PREMIS tool was used. The data was
coded and entered using Epidata version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.
Bivariate and multivariable linear regressions were done and the strength of association was
assessed by using unstandardized coefficient with 95% CI. Then, variable with P-value <0.05
was considered as an independently associated factor for perceived readiness.
Results: A total of 410 healthcare providers were included, yielding a response rate of
96.67%. The overall mean perceived readiness was (3.81 ± 0.60) out of seven. Age [β= 0.01,
95% CI: (0.005, 0.018)], year of experience [β= 0.058, 95% CI: (0.044, 0.072)], receiving
intimate partner violence training [β= 0.32, 95% CI: (0.24, 0.39)] and log10 of perceived
knowledge score on IPV management [β= 1.42, 95% CI: (1.09, 1.72)], and log10 of attitude
score toward IPV [β= 2.19, 95% CI: (1.87, 2.50)] all demonstrated a significant relationship
with mean perceived readiness.
Conclusion: There was limited training to address the perceived readiness of healthcare
professionals to assess and address intimate partner abuse. In order to effectively meet the
needs of survivors of intimate partner abuse, a comprehensive package of training on intimate
partner violence is required
Recommendations: Federal ministry of health and hospital coordinators should offer pre andpost service IPV training for health care providers
