Workplace Violence Against Nurses: Vhembe District Hospitals, South Africa

Introduction: Work-related violence is a common problem worldwide. In South Africa, the Medical Research Council conducted a study on workplace violence in the health care industry and reported that most respondents had experienced it in different forms. Purpose: This study aimed to identify the types and causes of workplace violence toward nurses in Thulamela hospitals, Vhembe district. Methods: The study employed a quantitative approach using a cross-sectional design. The target population was all nurses working in one regional and two district hospitals in the municipality. The sample consisted of 100 randomly selected participants from each hospital giving a total sample size of 300. Prior to the data collection, an ethical clearance and written informed consent were obtained from each participant. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Analysis was done using SPSS Version 20.0. Results: The study revealed that 85% of the respondents (255) had experienced workplace violence in the last 12 months with a range of 95% for threats to 60% for bullying. Regarding the gender of the perpetrators, females (71%) were the main perpetrators. Conclusion: This study concludes that workplace violence is a major occupational health issue in the district, most especially among the psychiatric nurses.