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- Title
Child maltreatment: knowledge, attitudes and reporting behaviour of physicians in teaching hospitals, Egypt.
- Authors
Saeed, Nourhan; Sultan, Eman Anwar; Salama, Naglaa; Galal, Mohammed; Ghanem, Maha
- Abstract
Background: Lack of diagnosis and reporting of child maltreatment are important problems worldwide. Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of physicians in Alexandria University teaching hospitals about the diagnosis and reporting of child maltreatment cases. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at three hospitals. All physicians working regularly in emergency units were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of and formal training on child maltreatment, attitude to dealing with child maltreatment, and experience of child maltreatment cases and reporting behaviour. Results: A total of 90 physicians were included in the study. Only 11% correctly identified all the signs of child maltreatment and 29% correctly answered all questions on the social indicators of maltreatment. Only 41% of the participants had a good knowledge score (> 75%) on child maltreatment. Longer work experience (P = 0.019) and older age (P = 0.039) were associated with better knowledge. Of 249 suspected cases of child maltreatment that the physicians reported they had experienced, only 36% were reported. Formal training on child maltreatment (P < 0.001) and older age (P = 0.006) were associated with physicians' reporting behaviour. Over half (56%) of the participants thought their workplaces did not provide them with procedures to follow if they suspected child maltreatment. Conclusion: Physicians' knowledge of the signs and social indicators of child maltreatment was unsatisfactory. Clinical training and education are needed to improve their ability to diagnosis and report cases of child maltreatment.
- Subjects
EGYPT; PROFESSIONAL practice; PUBLIC health laws; WORK experience (Employment); WORK environment; PROFESSIONS; ACADEMIC medical centers; CHILD abuse; RESEARCH methodology; CROSS-sectional method; AGE distribution; PHYSICIANS' attitudes; QUESTIONNAIRES; PSYCHOLOGY of physicians
- Publication
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2021, Vol 27, Issue 3, p250
- ISSN
1020-3397
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.26719/emhj.20.126