A systemic vulnerability in child protection: the interprofessional gap in abuse and neglect recognition rooted in university curricula.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

The integrity of child protection systems, a precondition for social sustainability, is compromised by an 'interprofessional awareness gap' among key sentinel professions, particularly within health and education. This study aims to empirically define this gap by comparing the preparedness of two critical future professional cohorts: final-year midwifery and pre-school education students. The objective is to reveal how their distinct university curricula shape foundational awareness of child abuse and neglect (CAN) before they enter professional practice.

METHODS

Using a causal-comparative design, this study assessed final-year midwifery (n = 246) and pre-school education (n = 115) undergraduates in Türkiye. Two validated psychometric instruments measured awareness across distinct subtypes of abuse and neglect, revealing the multifaceted nature of their understanding.

RESULTS

Findings revealed a significant disparity, with future midwives being less prepared to identify CAN than their education counterparts. This awareness deficit was most pronounced for subtle forms of maltreatment, such as emotional and economic abuse, and all dimensions of neglect. A student's academic department was the sole significant predictor of awareness, outweighing the influence of academic progression or prior training.

CONCLUSION

This gap represents a systemic vulnerability cultivated by siloed higher education paradigms. Midwifery's traditional biomedical curriculum appears insufficient for imparting the holistic, socio-ecological perspective required for effective safeguarding. A paradigm shift toward mandatory Interprofessional Education (IPE) is imperative. Such reform is crucial for forging a shared professional ethos and a common language of risk, thereby creating a truly resilient and sustainable child protection framework.