Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate nurses’ perceptions on child abuse.
Methods
In this cross-sectional descriptive study, data were collected using a questionnaire and 217 nurses working in seven general hospitals were surveyed. The perception scale was divided into 4 subscales: physical, psychological, sexual abuse and neglect.
Results
Nurses who suspected child abuse accounted for 18.1% of the nurses, and 41.9% of the nurses stated that they did not to report suspected child abuse. The nurses reported receiving only a little education about the prevention of child abuse. The mean score for perception on child abuse was high (3.59±0.31). Recognition of sexual abuse ranked highest, psychological abuse ranked lowest.
Conclusion
The findings from this research provide baseline information for understanding nurses’ perceptions on child abuse, and may help in the development of appropriate education programs that will enable nurses to report child abuse.

Citations

• The role of nurses in child abuse situations: a systematic review
  Bomi Kim, Sunyeob Choi
  Child Health Nursing Research.2025; 31(1): 4.     CrossRef
• Effects of nursing students’ ability to empathize, recognize children’s rights, and perceive child abuse on their intention to report child abuse
  Hye-Seon Lee, Hyunkyung Choi
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing .2024; 30(1): 61.     CrossRef
• The effects of action learning-based education of nursing students on the perception of child abuse
  Nam Hye Ri, Sun Jung Park
  International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIE.2023; 10(11): 14.     CrossRef
• Child Abuse Awareness and Reporting Intention among Nursing and Education Students
  Yeseul Jeong, Sang Youn Jang, Min Kyung Song, Da Jeong Kum, Sae Eun Park, Kyung Sook Bang
  Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Educ.2019; 25(2): 216.     CrossRef