Exploring Prevalence of Child Abuse: Use of ICAST-Retrospective Instrument with the First Year Medical Students in a University

Abstract

This study determined the prevalence of child abuse in first year medical students in a Turkish university using the ICAST-R, as well as the relationships between sociodemographic data and abuse. Methods: First-year medical students in a Turkish university have been surveyed between 15th-30th June 2012, using ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool-Retrospective Version (ICAST-R) and a questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 15.0. Results: This study was included 192 students, 56.8% female and 43.2% male. Physical, emotional and sexual abuses were found in 14.6%; 32.3%; and 8.9% of participants, respectively. No significant relation between gender and emotional abuse was found (p= 0.775), whereas both physical and sexual abuse were more common in males (p= 0.04; p= 0.018 respectively). There was a statistically significant relation between emotional abuse and parental separation (p= 0,014). Conclusions: Abuse is not rare among the medical student participants, and several preventable factors could worsen it. The findings have implications on how medical students are taught about these issues.

Childhood Trauma Experiences in Mersin University Faculty of Medicine Students

“…When the relationship between sexual abuse score and income was evaluated, the scores of students in Eskişehir who evaluated their family's income as low were reported to be higher than those who evaluated their income as normal and high 26 . In a study conducted with medical faculty students, in Mersin and in our study, no relationship was found between family income level and sexual abuse scores 18,31 .…”

“…In studies conducted in China, Istanbul and Sivas, sexual abuse scores were higher for male students 17,20,21 . In a study conducted with medical faculty students, it was reported that the frequency of childhood sexual abuse was higher in males 31 . In studies conducted with university students in Canada, Istanbul and Hatay, sexual abuse scale scores were reported to be higher in women 19,22,32 .…”

“…In our study, it was found that there was no relationship between education level of the parents and sexual abuse scores. In a study conducted with medical faculty students, it was reported that there was no relationship between the education level of the mother and sexual abuse, but it was reported that there was a relationship with the education level of the father 31 . The study conducted in Mersin is in accordance with our results 18 .…”

Determining the Prevalence of Child Maltreatment Among Young Adults in Saudi Arabia Using ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool

“…In a study on 192 students in the first year of medical school at a Turkish university, 56.8% of females and 43.2% of males were assessed using ICAST-R. Physical abuse was reported by 14.6% of participants, emotional abuse by 32.3 %, and sexual abuse by 8.9% [ 11 ]. Another study included 6682 students from 18 schools in Kerala, India, who were surveyed using ICAST-CH to estimate the prevalence of child abuse [ 12 ].…”