engleski

SCHOOL CHILDREN AND YOUTH ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTED IN ONE SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER

Introduction: The goal was to analyze information regarding elementary and high school children abuse and neglect, collected during 15 year period in one school health center. Methods: Different variety and frequencies of abuse and neglect are collected from children’ s medical records of one school medicine specialist. Results: In 15 year period 2800 elementary and high school children passed through the health care. Place of abuse and neglect was home, school and street. Types of abuse/neglect were: 1. physical abuse/neglect: fighting, physical punishing (locking-up, denying food and sleep), 2. mental abuse/neglect: lack of confidence, threats, humiliation, lack of love and understanding, inadequate rewarding, intimidation, money extortion and especially severe was: 3. sexual abuse/neglect and raping. Molesters regarding age were: 1. grown-ups (parents, strangers, teachers, siblings, cousins and family friends, 2. children and youth. Source of information were children-victims, parents-mother, teacher, school staff, home nurses, social workers, neighbors and police. Conclusion: School medicine specialist in every day work can identify abuse/neglect children and intervene to reduce the consequences, also can prevent the problem through education and training teachers to identify the problem. For last 5 years Croatia has obligatory family and school violence protocol for health and other professionals.

school-aged children; youth; abuse and neglect

nije evidentirano