Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness among Medical Students

Awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome among Saudi Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Child abuse is a global problem. Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a result of child abuse, with shaking being the most common form of maltreatment, causing mortality or severe brain damage in infants. A lack of awareness of SBS among current and future healthcare professionals can have serious consequences. To date, no studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia to examine student nurses' awareness of SBS, so we sought to assess this issue in an academic institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For this questionnaire-based study, we employed a cross-sectional, descriptive design. The target population was nursing students from every year of study in the institution's five-year undergraduate nursing programme, who received an online questionnaire during the 2022-2023 academic year. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Of the 293 respondents, 100.0% confirmed that they were not aware of SBS through their nursing curricula, and 62.1% reported not being made aware of SBS at all during their academic journey. The majority of participants were unaware of the negative consequences of shaking a baby. Most were not aware that shaking a baby vigorously can cause permanent blindness (73.4%), postural impairments (56.7%), sleep disorders (61.1%), or convulsions (60.1%). The results of our study revealed a statistically significant relationship between nursing students' awareness of SBS and both their year of study and marital status. Those at higher academic levels and those who were married were more aware of SBS. To improve nursing students' knowledge of SBS and help them to better inform the public of this syndrome, particularly parents, child maltreatment topics should be added to nursing curricula in Saudi Arabia, and their importance should be emphasised. This will help reduce the prevalence and burden of SBS nationally.

Identification of Child Abuse and Neglect Based on the Perception of Training Physicians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Child abuse and neglect (CAN) affects many countries, including Saudi Arabia (SA). CAN in SA is more commonly detected in hospitals. Therefore, healthcare professionals must identify and report the cases. This study aims to assess knowledge and perceptions toward CAN among training physicians. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted through a self-administrated structured questionnaire and involved 123 residents and fellows who deal with children in Jeddah, SA. The participants were recruited using convenient sampling methods. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results We found that approximately 78% would report their findings to the legal authority, document them, and assess their consistency with parents and the child's explanation. However, only 41.5% of the participants would report CAN to the proper authority. Most participants believed that CAN should be redefined according to Saudi culture and religious standards. In contrast, 68.9% of the participants believed that CAN cases are under-reported in SA. The main barrier to not reporting is the fear of consequences (63.4%). About 77% of the participants agreed to the need for further training. Identifying the CAN indicators was higher among those who handled a CAN case previously (median = 66.67, p = 0.023). Conclusions In conclusion, the study showed that appropriate undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum training should be developed to strengthen future healthcare practitioners in dealing with CAN cases to protect children's welfare.

Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness Among Healthcare Students in Saudi Arabia

Background Healthcare workers are responsible for dealing with pediatric victims of violence. While the awareness and reporting of suspected cases are rising, there is a lack of research that proves the awareness, knowledge, and attitude of healthcare students. Objectives We evaluated the awareness of child abuse and neglect and examined the demographic factors associated with them. Participants and setting The study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah with a sample of 237 undergraduate healthcare students. Methods We utilized the quantitative design and surveyed a convenience sample of 237 healthcare students from March to May 2021. The survey contains questions on child abuse and neglect. Results The respondents' overall mean on the scale was 82.90 (SD = 14.00). The students rated the subscale "Actions considered as child neglect" as the highest (M = 4.18, SD = 1.08), followed by "Actions considered as child abuse" (M = 4.04, SD = 1.21), "Reasons for under-reporting child abuse and neglect cases in Saudi Arabia" (M = 3.34, SD = 0.68), and "Knowledge regarding child abuse and neglect" (M = 3.13, SD = 0.53). The analyses showed that gender (t= -3.88, p< 0.001) and year level (F= 5.98, p= 0.003) were associated with the students' "knowledge regarding child abuse and neglect." Conclusion The findings revealed a good awareness of child maltreatment among healthcare students. However, the students reported a lower awareness of the different reasons for under-reporting child violence cases in Saudi Arabia.

Child sexual abuse prevention: A qualitative study of teachers' educational needs

Background

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has emerged as a global concern, particularly affecting children in Indonesia. However, there remains a scarcity of research on CSA within the Indonesian context.Objective: This study aimed to explore the educational needs of primary school teachers in preventing child sexual abuse.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study design was employed, with eight teachers and school principals selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions and analyzed using content analysis.

Results

Six categories emerged: 1) The risk of sexual abuse, 2) The necessity for clear CSA preventive regulations and sanctions for abusers, 3) Lack of CSA program socialization, 4) The need for structured CSA prevention education for children, 5) The importance of effective coordination with various relevant stakeholders, and 6) The presence of barriers and obstacles.

Conclusion

This study provides valuable insights into the educational prerequisites for teachers to implement CSA prevention measures effectively. The findings emphasize the pressing need for school teachers to develop and implement CSA prevention programs, with the government's and nursing professionals' support, to enhance educators' abilities in combating CSA. Nurses have a pivotal role in preventing and addressing child sexual abuse, and they should actively contribute to improving child safety and well-being through knowledge, collaboration, and advocacy for comprehensive prevention strategies.

Child Abuse and Neglect: Awareness among Dental Students

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) have significant consequences for children's health and well-being. Dentists play an important role in identifying and reporting CAN cases. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes toward CAN among dental students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students, comparing second-year (preclinical) and fifth-year (clinical) students, both male and female, in the College of Dentistry at King Saud University during the first semester of the 2022/2023 academic year, using a questionnaire with 23 multiple-choice questions and an electronic link. The results revealed that most dental students (96%) were aware of CAN, with social media being the most utilized source of information (85%). However, the dental college was noticed as the least utilized source (50%). Most dental students recognize the significance of CAN in dentistry and expressed an intense interest in learning how to effectively deal with such cases. Only a small proportion, 16%, of dental students reported experiencing incidents of CAN in their clinical practice. In general, there were statistically significant differences between preclinical and clinical students, but there were no significant differences in awareness between female and male students when the source of information and role in dealing with CAN were taken into consideration. Both preclinical and clinical dental students were aware of CAN, although there were concerns about their ability to cope with it. The results emphasize the importance of comprehensive education and training programs across the dental curriculum about CAN.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Nursing Students in Greece Regarding Child Abuse and Neglect

Data on the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare practitioners in training regarding child abuse and neglect (CAN) are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes regarding CAN of medical and nursing students in Greek universities. We performed a questionnaire-based e-survey on a convenience sample of students and recruited 609 students (366 medical and 243 nursing). An unsatisfactory level of knowledge in the field was reported overall. Most of the students (92.2%) were aware of their future responsibility to protect vulnerable children and report suspected cases of CAN; at the same time, they were willing to obtain further education. Based on the above, appropriate training in the undergraduate curriculum should be developed in order to strengthen future healthcare practitioners and boost their confidence in dealing with suspected cases of CAN and protect children's welfare.

Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect Among the General Public in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Child abuse represents a serious problem worldwide. In Arab countries, the problem is complicated because abuse may be perceived as a method of discipline. This review aimed to describe awareness of the public in Saudi Arabia regarding child abuse. A search was performed in the databases of MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost), and Web of Science for articles published in English from the 1^st of January, 2000, to the 14^th of November, 2022. The search was conducted during the period from the 7^th to the 14^th of November 2022. The used search words were {"Child Abuse"} AND {"Saudi Arabia"} AND {"awareness"}. The risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using the Risk of Bias Instrument for Cross-Sectional Surveys of Attitudes and Practices. Six studies were included in this review. Most studies had high ROB in recruiting the participants, designing the questionnaires, and stating the rate of response. The awareness regarding physical abuse seemed fair in most studies, but the awareness about shaken baby syndrome was poor. Also, there was a misconception about the parent's right to discipline their children through corporal punishment. Most participants did not perceive a need for establishing protective laws or programs. Public awareness about emotional abuse and neglect was lower than in cases of physical abuse. The overall knowledge about child abuse seems to be fair, but poor knowledge was observed in some forms, such as shaken baby syndrome. The public concepts about physical punishment and the need for protective laws and programs are also negative and require more efforts to alter them.