Objective To estimate the prevalence of sexual abuse among married female healthcare (nurses and doctors) providers in tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan perpetrated by family members.

Design A descriptive cross-sectional study wasdone by using a random sample technique.

Setting One public and two private tertiary healthcare hospitals from Karachi, Pakistan

Population 350 married female nurses and doctorswere recruited.

Methods Descriptive and unvaried statistical methods used to analyzedata.

Main Outcome Measures Participantʼs and husbandʼs socio-demographic variables, types of domestic violence (DV), sexual abuse by husband and in-laws, response to sexual abuse, most frequent perpetrator, and reason of last violence.

Results The study revealed that of the total sample of 350 married female nurses and doctors, 97.7%(n= 342) were reported one or more types of DV at some point in their life. Whereby, 59.6% (n= 204) reported sexual abuse by their family members at some point in their married life. Out of which mainly the husband 94.6% (n=193) created sexual abuse, followed by brother in- law17.6% (n=36). Participants living in extended families [72.2% (n=26)], those who were undergraduate [50% (n=18)] and nurses [61.1% (n=22)] experienced sexual abuse by in-laws.

Conclusions In conclusion, nurses and doctors are victims of sexual abuse, because of socio-demographic factorssuch as extended family, educated and professional. The study participants were confronting to sexual abuse as the same level as those who were uneducated and poor. DV (Prevention and Protection) Act 2012 has been passed but needs strategies and commitment for enforcement.

Keywords: Domestic violence, sexual abuse, nurses and doctors, sexual abuse by family in-laws Biography I have done RM, RN, Post-RN, MScN, currently working as an Assistant Professor in Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery Karachi, for twelve years. Prior to this, I was the Head Nurse in Obs/Gyne of the Aga Khan University Hospital and also worked for ten years in the Emergency Department at the same institute. Altogether I have more than 22 years of working experience in different felids of clinical nursing, nursing education and research. My research interests are emergency nursing, women and child health issues, domestic violence and women empowerment. I have done MScN thesis on Prevalence of Domestic Violence among Married Female Healthcare Providers in Tertiary Care Hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. For which received awardThe Farida Allana Research Award from Rho Delta Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau international.