How do public child healthcare professionals and primary school teachers identify and handle child abuse cases? A qualitative study
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC public health
Abstract
Public child healthcare doctors and nurses, and primary school teachers play a pivotal role in the
detection and reporting of child abuse, because they encounter almost all children in the population during their
daily work. However, they report relatively few cases of suspected child abuse to child protective agencies. The aim
of this qualitative study was to investigate Dutch frontline workers’ child abuse detection and reporting behaviors.
Methods: Focus group interviews were held among 16 primary school teachers and 17 public health nurses and
physicians. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed according to factors of the
Integrated Change model, such as knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, skills, social influences and barriers influencing
detection and reporting of child abuse.
Results: Findings showed that although both groups of professionals are aware of child abuse signs and risks, they
are also lacking specific knowledge. The most salient differences between the two professional groups are related
to attitude and (communication) skills.
Conclusion: The results suggest that frontline workers are in need of supportive tools in the child abuse detection
and reporting process. On the basis of our findings, directions for improvement of child abuse detection and
reporting are discussed.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
International Resources, Netherlands, child abuse, risk detection, reporting, behavioral determinants, teachers, public health
Citation
Schols, M. W., De Ruiter, C., & Öry, F. G. (2013). How do public child healthcare professionals and primary school teachers identify and handle child abuse cases? A qualitative study. BMC public health, 13(1), 807.