Assessing Resident Physicians’ Knowledge and Attitudes on Child Sexual Abuse

Authors : Damla Eyüboğlu, Şengül Tosun Altınöz, Mahmut Şehirlioğlu, Ceren Fettahlı, Muharrem Bolluk, Albina Fazailova, Murat Eyüboğlu

Pages : 193-200

Doi:10.20515/otd.1586328

View : 16 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2025-02-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes of resident physicians regarding child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is a significant public health issue worldwide, and healthcare professionals often encounter challenges in identifying and managing such cases. A total of 126 resident physicians from both preclinical and clinical branches participated. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire developed by researchers based on current literature. The first part gathered sociodemographic information, while the second focused on knowledge of sexual abuse, risk factors, and legal responsibilities. Findings revealed that 67.5% of the participants received education on child sexual abuse during medical school, yet only 30.5% considered this training adequate. Participants demonstrated high awareness of explicit indicators of sexual abuse, such as sexualized conversations, voyeurism, and child pornography. However, lower awareness was observed for ambiguous cases, such as consensual interactions with older individuals. Regarding risk factors, most participants identified family socioeconomic status as related to abuse risk, with additional awareness of factors like separation from parents and parental mental health issues. Legal responsibility awareness was high, with 98.4% recognizing the obligation to report suspected abuse, though 7.9% expressed uncertainty about appropriate steps. These findings indicate gaps in knowledge regarding risk factors and judicial reporting processes and suggest that enhancing education in this area to be more comprehensive and practice-oriented could be beneficial. Addressing these gaps in medical education could improve the ability of resident physicians to recognize and manage child sexual abuse cases effectively, ensuring better protection for affected children and fulfilling their legal responsibilities.
Keywords : çocuk istismarı, cinsel istismar, asistan hekim, risk faktörleri, zorunlu bildirim