What future health care providers will need to know about child abuse and neglect

Child abuse and neglect have reached epidemic proportions. State and federal laws mandate that allied health professionals report suspected child abuse and neglect. Academic and continuing education programs could assist allied health professionals to be legally responsible, mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. This study examined the training needs of allied health students to be legally responsible in reporting child abuse and neglect. A questionnaire was administered to 236 students enrolled in 5 allied health programs. The questionnaire addressed the knowledge base and perceptions of allied health students in regard to child abuse and neglect. Results revealed that most allied health students felt inadequately prepared academically in the topic of child abuse and neglect. Only half of the students knew they could be charged with a crime for failure to report suspicions of child abuse and neglect. Nursing students, female students, and students older than 25 years were those likely to report child abuse and neglect. Students appear to have insufficient preparation in the areas of knowing how to report child abuse and neglect as well as their responsibilities to do so as allied health professionals.