Child neglect and abuse is a global and universal issue. This type of situation may cause physical, mental, sexual and social harm to the child and endanger his/her health and safety.[1, 2] Child abuse is defined as any sort of maltreatment and attitude which may negatively affect the child’s healthy growth and development, and may involve the harmful use of a child for all sorts of commercial interests.[3]
Specifically, child abuse became a grave problem that has been increasing worldwide: According to data released by UNICEF, 42.0% of the students in Australia stated that they had been faced with child abuse.[3] In Poland, 80.0% of the adults declared having already been victims of physical violence in their childhood.[4]
In Turkey, the main factors resulting in an increase of the number of children exposed to neglect and abuse are described herein: The vast number of families with low socioeconomic status, the high population growth rate, the fact that individuals use violence as a way of discipline and the raising levels and rates for unemployment and immigration.[5] Further, a study conducted in Turkey demonstrated that child abuse mostly occurs within the child’s home, school and in the streets, and that the abusers are mostly fathers, teachers, mothers, friends and neighbors.[6] When these children were asked to identify what type of abuse they witnessed, 56.0% reported witnessing physical abuse, 49.0% reported witnessing emotional abuse and 10.0% reported witnessing sexual abuse; however, these numbers changed when they were asked about what type of abuse they experienced, as 25.0% reported experiencing neglect, 51.0% reported experiencing emotional abuse and 3% reported experienced sexual abuse.[6]
Generally, child neglect and abuse may result in various injuries to the child, or even death; and children who carry on with their lives after an incident of abuse may experience several mental problems, and drug addiction, inclination towards crime and prostitution may be observed. [7] Further into the topic, children in early childhood who are exposed to neglect and abuse are more likely to abuse other children in their close environment when they become adults, thereby contributing to a vicious cycle (as this behavior passes on to coming generations): a previous study confirmed this affirmation, as mothers and fathers who have experienced abused early in their lives also abuse their own children, and the study makes a final statement to show that what really matters is children being safe from neglect, abuse and other types of harm.[7]
To keep them safe, it is necessary to identify the symptoms of child neglect and abuse and to ensure that legal notices regarding this type of behavior are applied in accordance with legal procedures. Like other civil servants, teachers also have certain responsibilities regarding child abuse, and they are obliged to give a legal notice in case they witness such incidents.[8, 9]Further, studies have shown that teachers play a crucial role regarding the recognition and cessation of child abuse because they often are the first professionals to have a long-term close relationship with children, and they communicate with children in this setting.[1, 10] Thus, along with preventive efforts, teachers should also take on the task to identify children who are victim of abuse and report it to the relevant authorities.[10, 11]
According to the legal regulations in Turkey, health professionals have particular liabilities concerning the legal notice of such cases;[12]as health professionals take part at health institutions where there is a possibility of identifying children neglect and abuse, they are expected to be competent in this identification.[2]Accordingly, since teachers at medical vocational schools raise and teach those who may become future health personnel, it is of significant importance that they are knowledgeable and qualified on the topic.