A retrospective study with icast-r (ispcan child abuse screening tools-retrospective) questionnaire for determination of child abuse in first year medical students in 2014-2015 academic year

Child abuse is an important problem both in the world and in Turkey. We do not have certain and sufficent data for the frequency of child abuse in Turkey. We need more studies to be done with internationally accepted instruments. In our study, we aimed to determine the prevelance of child abuse in a population of medical school students in their first year. We used ICAST–R ("retrospective") instrument designed by The International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN). We also aimed to contribute to data pool for determination of the prevalence of child abuse in Turkey. Of 173 students who completed the survey, 51,4 percent are found to be subjected to at least one type of child abuse (physical, emotional or sexual). The prevalence is higher in male gender and the difference is statistically significant. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse exposure rates are found to be ; 23,1%, 40,5% and 11% respectively. Physical and emotional abuse rates are higher in male gender and the difference is statistically significant. We did not found a statistically significant association with gender and sexual abuse. Efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect are growing in our country. But yet it is seen frequently and still an important problem. It is important to determine the prevalence and risk factors for child abuse to raise awareness. We still need more studies to have reliable data for our country.