Prevalence and predictors of workplace violence against nurses in Africa: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract Background and Aims Workplace violence (WPV) against nurses is a pervasive global issue, yet the extent of this phenomenon in the African context remains insufficiently explored. This review aimed to synthesize the available literature to identify the prevalence and predictors of WPV against nurses in Africa. Methods A systematic search was conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus, to identify studies published from 2000 to October 2023. The pooled prevalence of WPV and it subtypes were estimated using random‐effect meta‐analysis. Heterogeneity between studies was quantified with I 2 statistics. Subgroup analysis and meta‐regression were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. Results This review included 27 studies, involving 9831 nurses. The pooled prevalence of WPV was 62.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.6–72.0). Verbal abuse emerged as the most common form of WPV, with a prevalence rate of 51.2% (95% CI: 41.3–61.1), followed by threat 23.3% (95% CI: 6.5–57.2), bullying 22.9% (95% CI: 14.0–35.2), physical abuse 15.1% (95% CI: 11.0–20.4), and sexual harassment 10.3% (95% CI: 5.9–17. 5). The proportion of WPV varied across geographical areas in Africa; however, the differences were not significant. The predictors of WPV encompassed demographic factors, personal habits, workplace characteristics, and nurses’ past experience. Conclusion WPV against nurses is prevalent in Africa and transcends geographical boundaries in this region. This underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy changes to address this issue in Africa.