Child abuse and neglect – clinical approach and prevention measures. – Bulgaria (AMSB)

Name of the activity: Child abuse and neglect – clinical approach and prevention measures.

Country/NMO: Bulgaria (AMSB)

Program: Children Health & Rights

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Education

General description:

The training aims to help medical students, dental medicine students, young doctors and psychology students to acquire knowledge on how to recognize the marks of abusive behavior on children. The training combines a psychological and physiological aspect of the issue thanks to different lecturers : forensic doctors, psychologist and social worker. Participants will also be informed on legal procedures and documents needed when facing situations of violence against children during their practice.

Focus area:

Children’s rights, Children’s rights with emphasis on non-violence, Children’s rights with emphasis on the right to health and access to healthcare services

Problem statement:

Violence against children is a global issue : seven out of ten children suffer from abusive behavior from adults. We medical students and doctors are on the front line of the issue, we are the few professionals that can notice and identify the marks of the different types of maltreatment over children : psycho-emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and negligence.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

Our target groups are medical students, dental student, psychology students young doctors and health professional. The beneficiaries from this training are children experiencing abusive behavior from adults.

Objectives and indicators of success:

-To increase theoretical knowledge of health professionals about the topic (indicator : a questionnaire is filled by the participants at the beginning of the training. The same questionnaire is given to the participants at the end of the training)
– To increase practical knowledge on legal procedures and paperwork regarding cases of maltreatment (indicator : solving of different cases by participants with the help of the lecturer)
– To raise awareness among medical students and health professionals on this global issue (indicator : discussions and debates between participants and lecturers on different cases)

Methodology:

The training course consists of 10 sessions spread through 5 weeks (twice a week) of an hour and a half lectures or workshops with a forensic doctor from the department of Forensic Medicine and Deontology at the Medical University of Sofia. Students will be learning about how to recognize the marks of abusive behavior on children. The training combines a psychological and physiological aspect of the issue.

Plans for evaluation:

The questionnaire filled by participants at the beginning and the end of the training will give us pre- and post evaluation on their theoretical knowledge.
Every participant writes feedbacks at the end of every training session. At the end of the training participants fill a google form about their global experience – what did they learn? what did they like and what they didn’t? how would they improve the training for coming years? would it be sustainable and do they have any comments and remarks on the training?