Reconhecimento da violência contra crianças e adolescentes por enfermeiros de um hospital especializado

Abstract

Violence against children and adolescents is a global public health problem with severe consequences for the physical and psychological development of victims. Health professionals, especially nurses, play a crucial role in the early identification and intervention in cases of violence, which is essential to mitigate these effects and promote the well-being of children. The study aimed to identify the signs of child and adolescent violence recognized by nurses working in a specialized hospital. It is a descriptive research with a qualitative approach conducted in a philanthropic pediatric hospital located in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The study included 10 nurses. Data collection took place from December 2022 to March 2023 through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis employed the Content Analysis technique, conducted in three stages. In the first stage, the interviews were transcribed. Then, significant excerpts containing descriptions of indicative signs of violence were highlighted. These excerpts were organized into initial codes representing different aspects of recognizing violence. In the second stage, similar codes were grouped into thematic categories. This grouping allowed structuring nurses' understanding of the various signs of violence. In the third stage, the categories were reviewed and organized into central themes reflecting the main findings of the research. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. It highlights the importance of health professionals being attentive to sudden behavioral changes in children and adolescents, especially in the presence of their guardians, as potential indicators of abuse. Extreme mood swings, introversion, aggressiveness, rejection, panic, or silence near certain individuals may signal the presence of an abuser. Additionally, the behavior of guardians accompanying the victims can serve as a warning to health professionals about the possibility of intrafamily violence. The study emphasizes the importance of nurses in suspecting and investigating violence within the care process for children and adolescents, underscoring the need for institutional protocols that support early identification to protect children and adolescents.