Medical residents’ awareness of child abuse and neglect: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital

Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) is a significant public health and social issue with potentially devastating consequences. This study was conducted to evaluate residents' knowledge and awareness of CAN, which plays a crucial role in the identification and prevention of CAN.This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in March 2018 with 232 medical residents at Kocaeli University. Residents who had completed medical school and consented to participate were included in the study. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a Demographic Information Form and the 67-item Scale for the Identification of Symptoms and Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect, which assesses the symptoms and risk factors of CAN across 6 subscales. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 23 (SPSS 23.0). Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Appropriate parametric/nonparametric tests and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used based on the type and distribution of data. Of the 232 residents (mean age: 29.2 ± 2.5), 51.7% were female, and 50.4% had child abuse training. 60.8% of participants reported suspicion of abuse or neglect. The mean Scale for the Identification of Symptoms and Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect score was 2.40 ± 0.21, with higher scores in males and surgical specialties (P < .05). Residents had limited recognition of the CAN-related symptoms and risks. Further research is needed on reporting practices across specialties.