HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS’ PERCIEVED READINESS TO MANAGING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF KEMBATA TEMBARO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 2022

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