Detecting child abuse based on parental characteristics: Does The Hague Protocol cause parents to avoid the Emergency Department?

Background: Exposure to parental suicide attempt is associated with higher risks of adverse outcomes like lower educational performance, drug abuse and delinquent behavior. When a patient is hospitalized after a suicide attempt, this presents a unique opportunity to identify whether the patient has children, and thereby provide adequate follow-up for both the parent/patient and their children. The objective of this paper was to review the existing literature on follow-up measures for children subjected to parental suicide attempt. Methods: In line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, we conducted a systematic literature search. Results: The search resulted in a total of 1275 article titles, of which all abstracts were screened. Out of these, 72 full text papers were read, and a final four articles were included. Three of the included papers described parts of the same study from an emergency department in The Hague, where a protocol was implemented for monitoring and referring children of parents attempting suicide. The fourth article described the association between maternal attempted suicide and risk of abuse or neglect of their children. Conclusions: The lack of research in this particular area is striking. The circumstances surrounding a parent’s suicide attempt call for appropriate familial care.

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“…The results showed that the parents did not avoid medical care if referred. There was no decline in the number of patients included [ 90 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Literature Review of Attempted Suicide and Offspring

Lunde

Reigstad

Moe

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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“… 11 This finding correlates with the findings of Al Dosari et al and Al-Saif et al regarding the extent to which nurses in Saudi Arabia are appropriately trained and aware of child abuse when their patients are subject to it. 1 , 28 In Europe, nurses are trained to detect child abuse by examining and measuring the attitudes of parents and the attitudes that they demonstrate, 29 , 30 which is consistent with the recommendation of Al Dosari et al for nurses in the KSA. 1 In the United States, nurses are not so well trained and do not understand how to respond to situations of child abuse even if they are detected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Knowledge and Attitude of Pediatric Nurses in Saudi Arabia Regarding Child Abuse

Alharbi¹,

Moussa²

2023

JMDH

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Background Child abuse, especially when caused by the child’s parents or caregivers, can be either physical, psychological, and/or sexual. Pediatric nurses should be able to identify cases of child abuse, provide appropriate care, and address the issue. Nurses’ knowledge, attitudes in child abuse are essential in safeguarding the well-being and safety of those children. This study aimed to investigate pediatric nurses’ knowledge and attitude about child abuse and actions taken to address such abuse. Methods Seventy pediatric nurses working in one educational hospital in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia participated in the study. This study followed a quantitative design. A self-administrative questionnaire was distributed to pediatric nurses. A convenience sampling was followed to include the nurses who met the criteria. An adopted validated questionnaire was used for collecting data about nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding child abuse. The data was analyzed by SPSS with a descriptive analysis, independent t -tests or ANOVA test, and regression analysis. Results The descriptive results indicate that participants had adequate knowledge for identifying a child as a probable victim of child abuse. All participants agreed that an important role for nurses in managing and preventing child abuse is present. The study also indicated a favorable attitude of pediatric nurses toward child abuse. Linear regression analysis showed that nurses age between 31 and 40 years were positively associated with nurses’ knowledge of child abuse, nurses with fewer years of experience and nurses with experience in dealing with a victim of child abuse had a more favorable attitude. Conclusion The study concludes that pediatric nurses have adequate knowledge and a positive attitude toward child abuse. Middle age was positively associated with nurses’ knowledge of child abuse, while years of experience and experience in dealing with child abuse was inversely associated with nurses’ attitude.

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“…In contrast, no decline in emergency department visits was noted after the implementation of the Hague protocol (28). Of the 14 parents who were reported to the Reporting Centre in The Hague and who were interviewed, 10 indicated that they would visit the emergency department again (28). So, although we have no evidence that parents are actually avoiding the emergency department, a minority of the parents said they would, and given the possible selection of responders, the real numbers who would do this in practice may be even higher.…”

Section: Parents' Opinionsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Finally, it is important to consider that a minority of the parents (12%) indicated that the experience of the Amsterdam protocol would discourage them from visiting the emergency department in a future, similar situation. In contrast, no decline in emergency department visits was noted after the implementation of the Hague protocol (28). Of the 14 parents who were reported to the Reporting Centre in The Hague and who were interviewed, 10 indicated that they would visit the emergency department again (28).…”

Section: Parents' Opinionsmentioning

confidence: 98%