HEALTHCARE UNDER THREAT: GENDER BASED CHALLENGES IN VIOLENCE AND PAY EQUITY IN NEPAL

Binamra Bista* and Sandip Karki

Gender
based violence (GBV) is a critical public health issue that disproportionately affects women globally,
including those in hea lthcare professions. Despite being a significant concern, limited data exist on GBV and pay
scale disputes among healthcare workers in Nepal. To investigate the prevalence of GBV and pay discrepancies
among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care hospi tal in Nepal, focusing on gender based differences. A cross
sectional, questionnaire based study was conducted among 500 healthcare professionals, including lower level
workers, at a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Data were analyzed using descriptive sta tistics and inferential tests to
identify significant associations. Prevalence of GBV: 48% of participants experienced GBV, with females
disproportionately affected (63.3% of females vs. 25% of males). Pay Scale Discrepancies: Among lower level
workers, 50 % of females reported pay discrepancies compared to 25% of males, earning 15 20% less for similar
roles. Younger workers (21 30 years) and nurses were most affected by GBV, while gender bias was identified as
the main cause of pay inequity. This study high lights the dual challenges of GBV and pay inequity faced by female
healthcare professionals in Nepal. Addressing these issues requires targeted interventions, including workplace
policies, transparent salary systems, and support mechanisms.