Effect of Stay Safe Nursing Care Package on Knowledge and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder regarding Child Abuse among School Children A Mixed Method Approach

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Childhood is an important phase in every human life as they are the future asset of the society. Child abuse is one of the most desolate and increasing social problem today. A child of any age can be abused as they are dependent on adults and they are vulnerable to be abused due to their developmental stages and the rearing environment. These effects can affect the physical, psychological, social status of the child, family and the society. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the lived in experience of children with child abuse and to assess the effectiveness of stay safe nursing care package on level of knowledge and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among school children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted using a mixed methods approach, using sequential exploratory research design in which qualitative study was done using phenomenological approach to explore the lived in experience of children with child abuse and quantitative approach was conducted by using a quasi experimental research design. RESULTS: The qualitative data derived the themes based on the lived in experience of children regarding child abuse, contributing factors, types of abuse, impact of abuse and reporting of abuse. Based on this report and experts suggestions, stay safe nursing care package was designed and tested for its effectiveness among children with abuse. Statistically significant association of selected demographic variables with mean differed knowledge and PTSD symptom scores was identified in the study group thus indicating that stay safe nursing care package was effective and viable in reducing the symptoms of PTSD among children. CONCLUSION: The stay safe nursing care package was found to be a need based nursing intervention for school children to promote awareness about child abuse and reduced the symptoms related to PTSD which occurred due to abuse .The Mixed Methods approach had helped the researcher to identify the children needs before framing the stay safe nursing care package. newline