Sexual Harassment Among Health Workers and Students

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the dimensions of sexual harassment experienced in health

sector and health education in Turkey (1). This study aimed to reveal the perceptions,

attitudes and behaviors of Turkish health workers and health students toward sexual

harassment (2). This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study was performed

with 96 health workers from three different hospitals including a university, a Ministry of

Health public hospital and a maternity hospital and, 99 students of nursing and midwifery

education in one university. In a special room and by using face to face method, total 195

attendants filled in a questionnaire developed by the researches in accordance with literature.

Frequency test, percentage distribution test and, chi square test were used to assess the data.

In this study, 20.8% of health workers and 10.1% of health students were found to be

exposed to sexual harassment. “Unnecessary touch and unwelcome contact” prevailed

among the health workers (60%) whereas “staring at repetitively or in a suggestive manner”

prevailed among the health students (70%). Sexual harassment was found to occur frequently

within “working hours/daytime” among health workers. Health students reported that they

exposed to the harassment during “watch duty/night shift” mostly. Health workers and

nursing and midwifery students were determined to be subjected to sexual harassment in

Turkey. Although the majority of the participants believe managers’ report no abuse must be

reported to the event.

Key Words: Sexual harassment, nursing, midwifery, medical education