Retrospective evaluation of child abuse cases applied to Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine

ABSTRACT Retrospective Evaluation of Child Abuse Cases Applied to Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine Introduction: This study aims to retrospectively examine child abuse cases presenting to Çukurova University School of Medicine and evaluate the demographic characteristics and abuse outcomes of these cases. Materials and Methods: The study is a single-center descriptive study that includes the files of 2,071 abused children who presented in the last 10 years. Data were collected using patient information forms, and statistical analyses were performed using the Jamovi software. Results: The majority of the examined cases were girls (80.1%), with a median age of 14 years. Among the children, 47.4 % were in the 7-14 age range, and 46.9 % were 15 years and older. Education levels were generally at the primary school level, and 12.9 % had intellectual disabilities. Most mothers had low education levels, and 88.4 % were unemployed, while fathers were generally employed with higher education levels. The rate of physical abuse was 16.8 %, predominantly inflicted by fathers (33.8 %) and mothers (24.7 %). Neglect cases were prevalent at 41.8%, with the most common forms being educational, health, and cleanliness neglect. The rate of sexual abuse was 43.8 %, with genital penetration being the most frequently observed type. Sexual abuse was mostly perpetrated by acquaintances, with 72.7 % involving coercion, 55.5 % involving confinement, and 50.6 % involving threats. Gender-wise, girls had higher median ages and numbers of siblings compared to boys, and these differences were statistically significant. Girls had higher rates of intellectual disabilities, physical abuse frequency, and types of sexual abuse compared to boys. Additionally, girls experienced sexual abuse at a younger age, and had higher genital examination findings and rates of repeated sexual abuse. Victims of physical abuse often had low rates of seeking legal aid from their families and had limited supportive family approaches. Abuse victims generally faced family separation, interrupted education, and societal pressure. Conclusion: The data obtained from this study highlight the need for improved prevention and support processes for child abuse victims. Increasing public awareness about sexual abuse, accelerating legal processes, and strengthening reporting mechanisms could contribute to a reduction in abuse cases in the long term. Future research should focus on a more detailed examination of socio-cultural factors and analyze how these findings resonate across different communities, which will enable the development of more effective strategies for combating child abuse. Keywords: Child abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, incest.