Workplace Violence and Associated Factors among Farm Workers in Birr Farm, Jabie Tehnan District, West Gojam, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2021.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Workplace violence includes all types of abusive behavior, affects a person's well-being, happening in any workplace. Millions of workers, in the world of work, not only in agriculture but also in other fields are abused. It has impacts on employees' psychosocial health, employment, occupation, job security, job satisfaction, associated with absenteeism, reduced production, and turnover effect on the overall economy. Objective: To assess the prevalence of workplace violence and associated factors among farmworkers in Birr farm, Jabie Tehnan district, West Gojjam, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional -based cross-sectional study was implemented. A total of 411 participants were selected from the farmworkers with stratified random sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data by face-to-face interview. The data were coded and entered into EPI-data version 4.5 and exported to SPSS version 25 software for further analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the degree of association between dependent and independent variables using bivariate and multivariable analysis. The statistically significant results were declared by odds ratios with 95% Cl and p-value ?0.05. Results: The prevalence of workplace violence was 75.4% with 95% CI: (71.0, 80.0), and the most frequent verbal abuse (67.6%). Five potential factors were identified to influence workplace violence, number of workers [AOR=2.67, 95%, CI: (1.36, 5.21)], labour administration department [AOR=2.98, 95%, CI :( 1.01, 8.74)], Main agriculture department [AOR=4.06, 95% CI: (1.29, 12.78)], permanent employment [AOR=3.00, 95% Cl (1.10, 8.20)], alcohol intake [AOR=6.46, 95%CI; (3.54, 11.76)], and khat chewing [AOR=6.49, 95%, CI :(2.88, 14.64)], were significantly associated with workplace violence. Conclusion and Recommendation: The prevalence of workplace violence among farmworkers was high. It was a major public health problem across farmworkers,the Amhara region of labour and socal affair develop alcohol drinking and khat chewing prevention programs in agricultural sectors. Keywords: workplace violence, farmworkers, risk factors, Birr farm, Ethiopia