Abstract:

This research has aimed to determine the competency level of the nursing students, in recognizing the signs and risks of child abuse and neglect. This descriptive study has been conducted on the students who have been studying in the 2nd and 4th year of nursing faculty of a university, during the spring semester in 2017-2018 Academic Year. The samples cover 217 students (92%) who met the study criteria. The data were obtained by using “The Identification Information Form” and “Scale of Diagnosing Symptoms and Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect”. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using 20.0 SPSS package program, applying the frequency, percentages, the Student’s t-test and one-way analysis of variance methods. The overall average scores of the students for the Diagnosing Symptoms and Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect Scale were 243,65 ± 23,05. In this study, the students who are 4th graders, female, have been trained on child abuse and neglect subject and have received this education through schools were found to be have higher scale of the diagnosing symptoms and risks of child abuse and neglect (p<0,05). It has been determined that the nursing students' ability to recognize the symptoms and risks of child abuse and neglect is not at an expected level, they are not aware of their legal responsibilities about child abuse and neglect and need education.

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