ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN ST PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE AND GANDHI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Gender based violence is violence directed against an individual based on sex or gender, which results in psychological, physical, or sexual trauma and is one of the most widespread, underreported, and unsolicited human rights violations in the world and has no social, economic, or national boundaries. Anyone can be a victim of sexual violence, but the majority of victims are women. Violence against women is a major public health problem affecting more than one-third of all women worldwide. Objectives: The main objective of this research is to assess the KAP towards GBV among health professionals in SPHMMC and GMH. Methodology: Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st May to 31 June 2024. After the minimum sample size is determined using single population proportion formula and assuming a margin of error to be 5%, proportion event occurrence (proportion of people who have good knowledge) at 50% , 95% level of significance and adding a 10% none response rate, sample size became 285. By using a standardized pre-tested questionnaire, data was collected and entered using Epi info 7 version 3.4.3 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis and bivariate and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. Result: Majority, 82.4% of the respondents had high knowledge level and 63.4% had a positive attitude on gender based violence. Reporting cases of gender based violence to legal authorities were low, at 28.9% among the health professionals. A statistically significant relationship was observed between respondents‟ level of knowledge and their attitude towards gender based violence (p – 0.002), their level of attitude and reporting practice (P – 0.003) and no significant association was found b/n attitude level and confidence level of reporting and screening. Conclusion: Knowledge and attitude level of health professionals were high. However, their screening for and reporting practices of gender based violence to legal authorities were insufficient and inadequate respectively. Training and ongoing sensitizations in gender based violence is recommended to improve the situation.