Evaluation of neglected and abused children who were referred to Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine

Purpose: Child abuse and neglect is a serious problem which have complex causes, tragic outcomes and medical, legal, psychosocial, developmental components. The purpose of this study is to evaluate demographic features of neglected and abused children and their parents who were referred to Evaluation of Neglected and Abused Children Who were Referred to Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine (CUFM) Judical Cases Evaluation Committee and to evuluate social and cultural aspects of its outcomes.Material and Methods: Between 2006-2009, sexually abused and referred to CUMF Judical Cases Evaluation Committee 484 cases (3-18 age) were studied retrospectively. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 17.0.Results: 143 (29.5%) of these cases were male and 341 (70.5%) were female; mean age was 12.09±3.82 (13.04±3.52 for females, 9.85±3.58 for males). Mean education period was 4.91±3.32 (5.5±3.3 for females, 3.5±2.9 for males). Type of sexual abuse was 11.6% friction, 24.8% genital penetration, 19.0% anal penetration, 1.7% oral penetration, 0.8% verbal abuse, 2.3% kissing and 11.4% fondling. In 28.4% of these cases one type of sexual abuse was accompanied with another. Offender was 54.4% acquaintance, 20.3% stranger, 11.0% relative-stepfather, 8.5% intrafamilial, 5.8% unmarried partner. 46.4% of the cases, sexual abuse was more than once and 29.5% genital examine finding, 5.6% pregnancy was existing. Victim?s attitude to sexual abuse was 23.8% nondisclose, 72.7% assistance and parent?s attitude was 11.0% nondisclose, 88.4% assitance. Parent?s attitude to the sexually abused child was 21.5% convictive-constraintive and 78.3% supportive-protective. 20.2% of the cases, ASB and 28.9% PTSB, 5.2% Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and 11.6% Mental Retardation was present.Conclusion: In our country, there are no reliable, statistical and sufficient data about child abuse and neglect. Because of that, first of all, the current situation of child abuse and neglect in our country have to be determined and more extensive scientific studies must be applied. Multidisciplinary approach is the basic issue for diagnosis and treatment of abuse and neglect. Prevention of abuse is easier and more successful than to treat. So that educational programmes for comminity, children, teachers and health personnel must be scheduled and performed to make them more conscious and sensitive. Abuse announcement, legal arrangements and social support programmes are important and mandatory in this process.