Abstract:

This study has been in order to determine the nurses’ and midwives’ recognition of the child abuse and neglect and its possibility and risk levels. The research was made on 192 nurses and midwives who had accepted to participate in this research in Aydın-Söke country between November 2004-March 2005. In collecting the data “Socio-demographic Data Form” and “The Diagnosis Scale of The Risk And Symptoms of Child Abuse and Neglect” form which was developed by Uysal 1998 have been used. 42,7% of the nurses and midwives who participated the research are between 28-37 years old; 80,7% are married; 81,8% have child; 37,5% graduated from open University and 2 years of college graduate; 39,6% of them have been working 6-10 years; 37,0% have been working in public Health field. It was identified that 52,6% of them hadn’t gotten any training in this field; 63% have been in seminers and conferences in this field, 90,6% could recognize child abuse; 89,1% of them have been willing to learn more in that field. Nurses’ and midwives’ average of the general scale knowledge score about child abuse and neglect, its symptoms and risk definition was found as x= 167,0±10,51 maximum score:335 .nurses and midwives has gotten the highest score x= 4,85±0,045 from the low scales of the general scale in phsical symptoms of the abused and neglected child. According to the findings of the research, nurses and midwives need more knowledge on child abuse and neglect. In order to diagnose the early stage of child abuse and neglect they need on the job training programs and school health nursing should be given attention. More over, the importance of this subject should be thought to nurses and midwives

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