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

Abstract

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.

The Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect Among the Saudi Population: A Narrative Review

“…The lack of knowledge emerged as a common barrier to reporting (67.2%). Alharbi and Moussa (2023) [ 10 ] investigated the knowledge and attitude of pediatric nurses in Saudi Arabia regarding child abuse. The study found that pediatric nurses displayed adequate knowledge and a positive attitudes toward child abuse.…”

“…Attitudes toward CAN appeared to be generally positive among the populations surveyed. The studies conducted by Alkathiri et al [ 9 ], Alharbi and Moussa [ 10 ], and Merwass et al [ 13 ] demonstrated that healthcare professionals, including nurses and healthcare providers, exhibited positive attitudes toward CAN. Notably, pediatric nurses emerged as particularly proactive in recognizing their role in identifying and addressing cases of child abuse.…”

Professional development in pediatric nursing: A study on the impact of educational module in legal and ethical care

“…Based on a survey conducted in 2023 by the Paediatric Nursing Certification Board, it was found that only 65% of paediatric nurses had received official training on the legal elements of care.Furthermore, a mere 55% of them felt sufficiently prepared to handle ethical difficulties. 4 The disparity between the requirement for skills and the abilities currently possessed highlights the crucial importance of focused educational programmes. Structured Teaching Programmes (STPs) provide a promising method for addressing this gap.…”