A qualitative study of public health nurses' experiences detecting and preventing child maltreatment in primary care settings
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Date
2023Metadata
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Original version
10.1111/jan.15761Abstract
Aim: To explore how public health nurses in child and family health centres experi-
ence detecting and preventing child maltreatment.
Design: Qualitative study.
Methods: Fourteen semi-structured individual interviews with public health nurses
who worked in 11 different child and family health centres were conducted. The in-
terviews were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Three themes were identified: (i) integrating knowledge to prevent child mal-
treatment as part of their everyday job, (ii) striving hard to detect child maltreatment
and (iii) experiencing the assignment to be complex and demanding.
Conclusion: Despite extensive experience, knowledge and following the guidelines,
public health nurses in this study had difficulties finding children exposed to child
maltreatment in child and family health centres. Public health nurses called for mutual
multidisciplinary cooperation with other services and organizational facilitation, such
as enough time and clear guidelines to effectively address this issue.
Implications for Practice: This study provides knowledge about how public health
nurses work with child maltreatment at the Child and Family Health Center, which can
serve as valuable foundation for further research as well for collaborating services.
Reporting Method: EQUATOR guidelines were followed, using the COREQ checklist.
Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution.