Determination of Knowledge Levels Associated with Recognition of Violence against Women of Health Professionals

Aim: The study was performed to determine of knowledge levels associated with recognition of violence against women of health professionals working in family health centers. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 135 people (13 nurses, 66 physicians, 56 midwives) working in 20 Family Health Centers in Adana between November 2015 and March 2016. In data collection was used "Personal Information Form" and "Scale of Concerning Nurses and Midwives’ Recognition of Violence against Women (NMRVAWS). In data analysis, SPSS 16.0 statistical package program; evaluating percentile distributions, t test, Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis H test. Results: It was determined that average age of health workers was 45.33±7.69 (min-max: 26-66), 62.2% was females and 90.4% was married. It was determined that 48.9% participants’ was physicians, 41.5% was midwives, 9.6% was nurses, 97% was working more than 5 years. It was found that 15.6% health workers’ was educated on pre-graduation, 16.3% on post-graduation violence against women. It was detected 72.6% had come across violence against women in business life, 51.1% reporting to related institutions / legal process and 24.5% have difficulty in taking women story. The total average score of NMRVAWS was 19.06±3.68, mean scores of physical symptoms subscale was 8.07±1.68, mean scores of emotional symptom subscale was 10.99±2.66. There was not statistically insignificant difference between NMRVAWS and socio-demographic and professional factors (p>0.05). Conclusion: The level of knowledge health professionals’ working in Family Health Centers is partially adequate about identifying violence against women