IDENTIFYING FACTORS OF INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES BY WORKERS FROM DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND LEGAL PROTECTION

Abuse of children is considered one of the most serious socio-pathological phenomenon that can occur in families. The first indicators of child abuse can be information from doctors, data from teachers, or police notifications. By analyzing several sources, it has been found that no exists only one factor that would have result in child abuse. It is a complex phenomenon that can be caused by a combination of biological, social, cultural economic or environmental factors. The aim of our research was to identify risk factors which workers from the Department of Social and Legal Protection of Children and Social Curatorship observe in families where child abuse is reported. The research has been conducted using a qualitative research strategy. The interview has been used in order to collect the data. The survey sample consisted from 11 workers from the Department of Social and Legal Protection of Children and Social Curatorship by Local Labour Office, Social Affairs and Family. The results show that there are several risk factors present in families where child abuse is present. As the most serious factors, participants have identified lower mental levels of parents, lack of parenting skills. As an important factor in terms of practice, it seems to be also the presence of violence in the family of origin. As our participants have pointed out the cultural context of the family has a great impact on the perception of violence by family members. On the basis of the findings, work not only with the child but also with the whole family is necessary. Prevention has an irreplaceable place here, not only at the primary or secondary level but especially at tertiary level. For effective prevention of child abuse is consistent identification of risk factors. As a deficiency, we perceive that in the Slovak environment there are no standardized methods of neglect assessment that would be used in the practical exercise of social and legal protection of children. In the context of tertiary prevention, it is necessary to focus on preventing the relapse of abuse and preventing further abuse and the development of long-term health psychological and social consequences.