Exploring nursing students' awareness about child abuse and neglect.

BACKGROUND

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) remain pressing issues globally, particularly in countries like Jordan with socio-economic challenges. Enhancing nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward CAN is critical in preparing future nurses to identify and address these cases effectively.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding CAN, focusing on identifying gaps and unique psychosocial insights.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit a sample of 559 nursing students from a private university in the capital of Jordan.

RESULTS

Students in the regular program (after secondary education) demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores on CAN detection and reporting (M = 23.7, SD = 3.79) than bridging program students (M = 18.7, SD = 4.36; t = 1.88, p < 0.05). Attitude scores were comparable between groups, 48.7 % showing positive attitudes. Students identified children from low-income families, shy children, and academically slow children as most vulnerable to abuse. Two major themes emerged from qualitative responses: the psychosocial consequences of CAN and its long-term societal impacts.

CONCLUSION

The study uniquely highlights the nuanced perceptions of CAN among nursing students in a resource-limited context. Addressing identified knowledge gaps and emphasizing the importance of detecting and reporting abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can empower future nurses and society to better report and detect CAN.