Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Resumo
Enquadramento: Os maus-tratos à criança e ao
jovem são um problema muito frequente nos nossos dias e
envolvem, para além da agressão física, a negligência, a
agressão psicológica ou o abuso sexual. Em Portugal, a partir
de 1980, começou a dar-se especial atenção a este tema,
através de uma abordagem multidisciplinar, em que o
enfermeiro dos cuidados de saúde primários tem um papel
importante na promoção e proteção, mas também na deteção
precoce e encaminhamento das crianças.
Objetivos: Identificar os conhecimentos dos
enfermeiros de cuidados de saúde primários sobre os sinais e
sintomas de suspeita de maus-tratos na criança; determinar a
influência das variáveis sociodemográficas e profissionais nos
conhecimentos dos enfermeiros sobre essa matéria; verificar a
influência da experiência de atendimento de crianças vítimas
de maus-tratos nos conhecimentos sobre os sinais e sintomas
de suspeita de maus-tratos na criança. Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo, exploratório e
descritivo, com utilização de um questionário, que teve por
base o Guia Prático de Abordagem, Diagnóstico e Intervenção
de Maus-tratos Infantis da Direção Geral de Saúde (2011). A
amostra foi constituída por 61 enfermeiros do Agrupamento
de Centros de Saúde (ACES) do Baixo Vouga. O questionário
foi aplicado em março e abril de 2013.
Resultados: Verificámos que a maioria não tinha
formação específica na área de maus-tratos (88,5%) e 93,3%
referiram sentir necessidade dessa formação. A maioria referiu
ter facilidade em detetar e comunicar casos de abandono
(66,7%), negligência (63,3%) e maus-tratos físicos (59,0%),
mas, por outro lado, referiram ter pouca capacidade para
detetar situações de maus-tratos psicológicos/emocionais
(45,9%) e de abusos sexuais (41%). Os enfermeiros que
fizeram formação específica em maus-tratos infantis
apresentaram um melhor nível de conhecimentos sobre a
deteção e encaminhamento destas situações (p=0,036). De
igual modo, os enfermeiros que tiveram experiência de
atendimento de crianças vítimas de maus-tratos também
apresentaram melhores conhecimentos (p=0,003).
Conclusão: Embora os enfermeiros de cuidados de
saúde primários se sintam capazes de encaminhar situações de
maus-tratos infantis, referem sentir falta de formação na área
dos maus-tratos e também na comunicação/relacionamentos
interpessoais, sobretudo na forma de abordagem destes
problemas com a criança/família. Sugerimos um maior
investimento na formação destes profissionais na área dos
maus-tratos infantis.
Abstract Background: Child and youth maltreatment are a very common problem nowadays and involve, in addition to physical assault, neglect, psychological or sexual abuse. In Portugal, from 1980, we began to pay special attention to this issue through a multidisciplinary approach, in which nurses from primary health care had an important role in the promotion and protection, but also in the early detection and referral of children. Objectives: To identify the knowledge of nurses in primary health care about signs and symptoms of suspected child maltreatment; to determine the influence of demographic and professional variables on the knowledge of nurses on this matter; to verify the influence of experience of care for children victims of abuse in the knowledge about the signs and symptoms of suspected child maltreatment. Methodology: Quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study using a questionnaire, which was based on the Practical Guide of Approach, Diagnosis and Intervention of Child Maltreatment from the Portuguese General Health Organization (DGS, 2011). The sample consisted of 61 nurses of the ACES Baixo Vouga region. The questionnaire was administered in March and April of 2013. Results: We found that the majority had no specific training in the area of abuse (88.5%) and 93.3% reported feeling the need for such training. The majority reported being easy to detect and report cases of abandonment (66.7%), neglect (63.3%) and physical maltreatment (59.0%), but, on the other hand, they reported to have little ability to detect situations of psychological/emotional abuse (45.9%) and sexual abuse (41%). Nurses who did specific training in child maltreatment showed a higher level of knowledge about the detection and referral of these cases (p = 0.036). Similarly, nurses who had experience caring for child victims of abuse also had higher knowledge (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Although nurses in primary health care feel able to refer cases of child abuse, they report feeling a lack of training in the area of abuse and also in communication/interpersonal relationships, especially in the form of addressing these issues with the child/family. We encourage a greater investment in training these professionals in the area of child maltreatment.
Abstract Background: Child and youth maltreatment are a very common problem nowadays and involve, in addition to physical assault, neglect, psychological or sexual abuse. In Portugal, from 1980, we began to pay special attention to this issue through a multidisciplinary approach, in which nurses from primary health care had an important role in the promotion and protection, but also in the early detection and referral of children. Objectives: To identify the knowledge of nurses in primary health care about signs and symptoms of suspected child maltreatment; to determine the influence of demographic and professional variables on the knowledge of nurses on this matter; to verify the influence of experience of care for children victims of abuse in the knowledge about the signs and symptoms of suspected child maltreatment. Methodology: Quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study using a questionnaire, which was based on the Practical Guide of Approach, Diagnosis and Intervention of Child Maltreatment from the Portuguese General Health Organization (DGS, 2011). The sample consisted of 61 nurses of the ACES Baixo Vouga region. The questionnaire was administered in March and April of 2013. Results: We found that the majority had no specific training in the area of abuse (88.5%) and 93.3% reported feeling the need for such training. The majority reported being easy to detect and report cases of abandonment (66.7%), neglect (63.3%) and physical maltreatment (59.0%), but, on the other hand, they reported to have little ability to detect situations of psychological/emotional abuse (45.9%) and sexual abuse (41%). Nurses who did specific training in child maltreatment showed a higher level of knowledge about the detection and referral of these cases (p = 0.036). Similarly, nurses who had experience caring for child victims of abuse also had higher knowledge (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Although nurses in primary health care feel able to refer cases of child abuse, they report feeling a lack of training in the area of abuse and also in communication/interpersonal relationships, especially in the form of addressing these issues with the child/family. We encourage a greater investment in training these professionals in the area of child maltreatment.
Description
Keywords
Maus-tratos infantis Prática em saúde Conhecimentos Atitudes Attitudes Practice Child abuse Health knowledge
Citation
Silva, Daniel; Afonso, Vera Lúcia & Silva, Ernestina Batoca (2014). Conhecimento dos Enfermeiros sobre a Suspeita e Deteção de Maus‐Tratos na Criança. Millenium, 47 (jun/dez). Pp. 69‐82.