Determining parents' awareness of child abuse in preschool period and teachers' reporting levels

Child abuse is classified into four main categories: physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect. It is a significant issue that negatively affects children's healthy development. This study aimed to determining of parents' awareness of child abuse in preschool period and teachers' reporting levels. The research included 161 teachers and 177 parents from different regions of Turkey. Data collection tools included the "Attitudes Towards Reporting Child Sexual Abuse Scale" for teachers and the "Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Scale" for parents. The findings revealed that teachers generally have a positive attitude toward reporting child abuse, although they express concerns about the outcomes of abuse reporting processes. On the other hand, parents were found to exhibit moderate levels of abusive behaviour towards their children, particularly in the use of physical punishment and attitudes toward sexual issues, where awareness levels were notably low. Demographic analyses for both parents and teachers showed that factors such as gender, age, and educational level significantly influence awareness and attitudes toward child abuse. Based on these results, it is recommended to expand educational and awareness programs for both parents and teachers to prevent child abuse and ensure children's safety. Moreover, continuous education and support should be provided to enhance teachers' and parents' knowledge and skills in recognizing, reporting, and intervening in cases of child abuse.