Knowledge and awareness and factors that influence child abuse reporting amongst school teachers in Chennai

Abstract

Background: Child abuse & neglect is growing public health problems in India. Abuse refers to deliberate acts of commission while neglect refers to acts of Omission. Policies & procedures to improve reporting of child abuse cases are revised regularly but rarely based on data. Teachers play a role in child development and are in close contact with the child. School personnel play a critical function in the reporting of and discovering child abuse. Literature is scarce on factors on school teacher’s knowledge of factors influencing reporting of child abuse in Chennai. Aim: To assess the knowledge, awareness, and factors that influence child abuse reporting amongst school teachers of in Chennai. Materials & Methods: School teachers were directed to fill out a Questionnaire, with 14 questions conccerning their knowledge of child abuse and child abuse reporting protocol.Responses were recorded & analyzed. Results: 93% knew what is child abuse 39% of teachers have seen child abuse cases, 50% had knowledge of child abuse reporting protocol, 63% knowledge was through awareness programs 39% felt that reporting of child abuse will not help family, 32% had no knowledge of where to report, 29% had fear of legal ramification. Conclusion: Even though, more than half of the teachers knew regarding child abuse. Effect on the child’s family, legal issues, and lack of knowledge on reporting protocol are preventing teachers from reporting of child abuse.