Harassment of working women in the public health sector of Abbottabad in socio-legal perspective

To investigate the efficacy and impact of Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 in the public health sector in its socio-legal perspective. This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2014 in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and comprised subjects selected from 53 basic health units managed by the government. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. Of the 450 questionnaires, 430(96.6%) were returned duly filled. Overall, 40% male (120 respondents) and 26% female (34 respondents) knew about the Act. Besides, 39% males (117 respondents) and 63% females (82 respondents) appeared unsatisfied with the complaint mechanism prescribed in the Act; all the respondents established that no case had been registered after the introduction of the Act. Overall, 31% males (93 respondents) and 57% females (74 respondents) thought that without the health governance commitment and social support structure the Act could not work. The Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 was considered ineffective by the respondents who were concerned about the lack of social support system for the Act.