Prevalence of sexual harassment of nurses and nursing students in China: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Liang Nan Zeng, Qian Qian Zong, Ji Wen Zhang, Li Lu, Feng Rong An, Chee H. Ng, Gabor S. Ungvari, Fang Yu Yang, Teris Cheung, Ligang Chen, Yu Tao Xiang

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sexual harassment experienced by nurses and nursing students is common and significantly associated with negative consequences. This study is a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of sexual harassment of nurses and nursing students in China. Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Ovid, China National Knowledge Internet, WanFang, SinoMed and Chinese VIP Information) were independently and systematically searched by two reviewers from their commencement date to 12 March 2018. Forty-one studies that reported the prevalence of sexual harassment were analyzed using the random-effects model. The pooled prevalence of sexual harassment was 7.5% (95% CI: 5.5%-10.1%), with 7.5% (5.5%-10.2%) in nurses and 7.2% (3.0%-16.2%) in nursing students. Subgroup analyses showed that the year of survey and sample size were significantly associated with the prevalence of sexual harassment, but not the seniority of nursing staff, department, hospital, economic region, timeframe, age, working experience or subtypes of harassment. In China, sexual harassment was found to be common in nurses and nursing students. Considering the significant negative impact of sexual harassment, effective preventive and workplace measures should be developed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)749-756
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Journal of Biological Sciences
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • China
  • Nurses
  • Sexual harassment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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