Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the attitude, behaviour and
challenges of nurses who take care of the physically abused in selected
hospitals in Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in Ghana. Specifically, the study
examined the differences in the attitude, behaviour and challenges of nurses
taking care of the physically abused persons on the basis of their gender,
marital status and their work experience. Using purposive and convenient
sampling techniques, a sample size of 126 general and mental health nurses
from a population of 184 general and mental health nurses from Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis were selected for the study. Tools used for analysis of the
data was frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, independent
sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed
that nurses have positive attitudes towards the physically abused victims
irrespective of gender, challenges, marital status and length of work
experience. Also, the study found that the behaviour of nurses in general was
good. The study recommends that nurses should be trained on their behaviour
towards the physically abused especially on how to report abuse cases to
domestic violence of victims support unit (DOVVSU) and professional
counsellors. Education and training programmes in counselling are to be
incorporated in the educational curriculum of nurses’ training schools. Also,
the government, through the Ministry of Health, should provide policy on
screening so that the hospitals can follow protocols on how to screen
physically abused victims.
