Assessing child protection training: A cross-sectional study among pediatric residents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background

Child abuse is a pervasive global issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the experience of pediatric residents in identifying and managing child abuse cases in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Participants and setting

The study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; participants were residents in years 1–4 of the Saudi pediatric residency program.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study. A validated questionnaire was used to collect the data from February–September 2023. Descriptive analysis was done using STATA.

Results

Out of 426 surveys sent, 251 responded (response rate: 58.92 %), of them, 239 complete responses were analyzed. Respondents were predominantly single 69.46 % and in various stages of residency. Most institutions had child protection specialists 80.75 %, and 83.26 % had a dedicated team. Nearly half of all pediatric residents (47.28 %) surveyed are unsatisfied with training in child protection. Despite that, in Riyadh, few institutions offer appropriate training as part of their residency programs. When assessing the competency in evaluating various child abuse forms, residents felt not competent in sexual 64.01 % and emotional abuse 55.65 %. While 57.56 % felt competent in evaluating failure to thrive cases. The majority of residents (76.15 %) anticipate dealing with child abuse cases as practicing pediatricians.

Conclusions

The results revealed a need for improvement, particularly in the competency of evaluating child abuse cases. Despite the presence of child protection teams in most institutions, responding to residents' unmet need for child protection training requires curriculum reform and training that hones the practical skills essential for recognizing and managing child abuse cases.