Child abuse and neglect: Reporting by health professionals and their need for training

Background: For health professionals who interact professionally with children, adequate awareness and training regarding the clinical indicators of child abuse and neglect, as well as subsequent reporting and procedures, are essential. Objectives: To study Israeli health professionals' experiences with identification and reporting of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, and their perceived training needs in this area. Methods: The study group was a convenience sample comprising 95 Israeli health professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, etc.) attending workshops on medical aspects at a national conference on child abuse and neglect. In this cross-sectional survey, the health professionals were asked to complete an anonymous structured questionnaire on their experience with child abuse and neglect and on their training needs. Results: The participants in the survey had relatively high levels of involvement with child protection. Nevertheless, they strongly expressed their need for training, especially in mastering practice skills. The need for training was greater for professionals with less experience in child protection,and there were different needs according to profession. Conclusions: Despite their prior extensive experience in dealing with child abuse and neglect, most of the health professionals participating in the conference reported the need for training in certain areas.