Physicians and nurses: knowledge of clinical management of sexual aggression in children based on the sexual aggression survivors manual in Puerto Rico.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge of health professionals about clinical the management of sexual aggression in children based on the sexual aggression survivors manual in Puerto Rico.


METHODS
The study population was composed of 150 health professionals (physicians and nurses). For the collected data, a self-administered questionnaire was used. The response rate was 88.7% (n=133). Descriptive statistics, crosstabs tables and Chi-Square were used for the data analysis.


RESULTS
75.9% of the participants were unaware of physical indicators related to sexual aggression in children. Nevertheless, 66.2% of the participants recognized emotional indicators of sexual aggression. 82.7% of the participants think sexual aggression victims should be referred to the physician and nurse, followed by 20.4% that indicated the social worker. 94.7% of the participants were unaware of the correct steps to carry out in a crisis intervention with sexual aggression victims and 91.7% recognized that all information topics should be offered during the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study confirm the necessity of intervention strategies to increase the knowledge of the participants about the correct clinical management of sexual aggression survivors.
Vidal
Ana
A
University of Puerto Rico, Mother and Child Health Program, School of Public Health, San Juan 00936-5067.
Torres
René R Dávila
RR
Amador
Annie Alonso
AA
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D011647:Puerto Rico; D017741:Survivors