Citation

Vidal A, Torres RR, Amador AA. P. R. Health Sci. J. 2007; 26(2): 141-145.

Affiliation

University of Puerto Rico, Mother and Child Health Program, School of Public Health, San Juan 00936-5067.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17722427

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge of health professionals about clinical the management of sexual aggression in children based on the sexual aggression survivors manual in Puerto Rico. METHOD: The study population was composed of 150 health professionals (physicians and nurses). For the collected data, a self-administered questionnaire was used. The response rate was 88.7% (n=133). Descriptive statistics, crosstabs tables and Chi-Square were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: 75.9% of the participants were unaware of physical indicators related to sexual aggression in children. Nevertheless, 66.2% of the participants recognized emotional indicators of sexual aggression. 82.7% of the participants think sexual aggression victims should be referred to the physician and nurse, followed by 20.4% that indicated the social worker. 94.7% of the participants were unaware of the correct steps to carry out in a crisis intervention with sexual aggression victims and 91.7% recognized that all information topics should be offered during the intervention. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm the necessity of intervention strategies to increase the knowledge of the participants about the correct clinical management of sexual aggression survivors.

Language: en