Multiple dimensions of violence against healthcare providers in Karachi: Results from a multicenter study from...

To investigate the causes, consequences and possible solutions for violence against healthcare.

The qualitative study was conducted in Karachi June 2015 to December 2015 using in-depth interviews and focus groups discussions with all stakeholders. Transcription was done verbatim using both audio and videotapes of all the sessions. First open coding was done using inductive analyses by 3 researchers. After consensus, these codes were used for thematic content analysis. Interviews and discussions were stopped after saturation was reached and no new codes were identified..

Overall, 42 in-depth interviews and 17 focus groups discussions were held. Major forms of physical violence included beating, throwing things, abusive language, threats, harassment, damage to building, furniture, vehicles and equipment. The threshold of violence was very high for verbal violence and minor forms of physical violence. The causes were identified as behavioural (communication gap between providers and patients, attendants), institutional (capacity, resources and systems) and socio-political (growing illiteracy and intolerance). The sequelae of violence included guilt, night dreams, shame and 61.9 % (N=26/42 IDIs)% who faced violence did not report it officially.

Violence faced by healthcare providers was multifaceted and needs interventions at varied levels, including training of healthcare staff in dealing with violence and its aftermaths, security measures at the healthcare institutions inclusive of ambulance services and policies at the national level to manage and de-escalate violence against healthcare.