Workplace Violence and Associated Factors among Farmworkers in the Jabie-Tehnan District, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Millions of workers, particularly those in the agriculture sector, face workplace violence around the world. Workplace violence impacts on workers' psychosocial well-being, employment, job security, job satisfaction, rate of absenteeism, and productivity. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of workplace violence and associated factors among farmworkers in west Gojjam, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 411 participants were recruited through stratified random sampling techniques in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected using pretested questionnaires based on face-to-face interviews. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify potential factors related to workplace violence. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI of P-value <0.05 declared that the outcome was statistically significant. Workplace violence was experienced among 75.4% (95% CI: 71-80) of study participants. Employment in specific departments (AOR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.36-5.21), employment in a labor administration department (AOR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.01-8.7), employment in an agricultural department (AOR: 4.06, 95% CI: 1.29-12.7), status as a permanent employee (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.10-8.20), alcohol consumption (AOR: 6.4, 95% CI: 3.5-11.7), and khat chewing (AOR: 6.49, 95% CI: 2.88-14.6) were significantly associated with workplace violence. Farmworkers experienced a high rate of workplace violence. Workplace violence was found to be more common in the labor administration and agriculture departments as well as among permanent workers, alcohol drinkers, and khat chewers. Health education strategies are recommended to minimize the influence of unwanted workplace violence among farmworkers.