Identification and assessment of intentional physical injuries to hospitalised preschool children

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This research investigates the indicators, different role players and the assessmentprocess of intentional physical injuries to children who are hospitalized.The basic premise for this research is the importance of professionals working withchildren in acquiring skills and knowledge on handling physically abused children.Physical abuse affects and requires the involvement of the entire family of thephysically abused child. It is therefore necessary to consider the physically abusedchild as a part of the larger family system, and not assessed or treated in isolation.The purpose of this research is to broaden the theoretical knowledge of professionalsworking with children, and specifically social workers, in identifying and assessingphysically abused children.This research report includes an investigation of risk factors, consequences and theadjustment process of physically abused children. Knowledge of these indicators ofphysical abuse will increase the awareness and the ability of the social worker or otherprofessional to identify the injury as intentional. The assessment process by themulti-professional team in the hospital is also examined, focusing on the central roleof the social worker in managing cases of physically abused children. The phases ofthe assessment process, the role of each team member, the various techniques appliedas well as factors influencing assessment are described.The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methodsin order to explore the theoretical part of the research. This section can be dividedinto three phases. The first phase included setting up a profile, over a period of fourmonths, of physically abused children under the age of five, who were admitted to thehospital and their families (N = 24). Of this sample, the characteristics andcircumstances of four parents/perpetrators (n = 4) were investigated in the form ofinterviews, which formed part of the second phase of the empirical research. Thethird phase included conducting a survey with the social workers (n = 5) that assessed physically abused children in the hospital. This was done III the form ofquestionnaires, which included closed and open-ended questions.The findings and responses of the respondents were analyzed and compared with thefindings from previous studies undertaken by various authors. The findings of thisresearch can be used as guidelines for professionals in general who work withchildren, and more specifically social workers in a hospital that assess childrenpresenting with intentional physical injuries.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University