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Public Health Nurses' Experiences of Child Maltreatment Preventive Work in Primary Healthcare: A Qualitative
Sigrid Hansen1, Stine Junge Svendsen1, Signe Zenia Hulgaard-Bruvold1
1Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Aim:
To explore public health nurses' experiences of child maltreatment preventive work in primary healthcare.
Design:
The metasynthesis approach was based on the guidelines by Sandelowski and Barroso for synthesising qualitative research.
Methods:
The quality of the included studies was appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Qualitative Research. The analysis followed Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis.
Data Sources:
Searches were conducted in five electronic databases: Cinahl, Medline, PsychINFO, Web of Science and SocINDEX in May and July 2024, and updated in April and December 2025.
Results:
Thirteen qualitative studies were included, and five themes were developed: Insufficient knowledge about when and how to act, building a therapeutic relationship with parents, keeping the child's best interest in focus, in need of better interdisciplinary support and ambivalence in addressing child maltreatment.
Conclusion:
Public health nurses face challenges in child maltreatment preventive work, including insufficient knowledge and limited interdisciplinary support. Even so, public health nurses demonstrate a strong commitment to children's safety and well-being and to building relations with families.
Implications For The Profession:
The findings suggest an increased focus on strengthening public health nurses' knowledge of child maltreatment and improved interdisciplinary collaboration.
Impact:
The findings are of interest to healthcare professionals and health authorities to improve child maltreatment preventive work in primary healthcare.
Reporting Method:
This review adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines.
Patient Or Public Contribution:
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.
Trial And Protocol Registration:
PROSPERO registration number: CRD42025637855.
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