Öz
Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the students studying at Mersin University Faculty of Medicine experienced neglect or abuse, and to examine the factors affecting this situation while investigating the relationship between the frequency of thoughts and attempts of suicide and the experience of abuse, and their knowledge level regarding the types of sexual abuse.
Method: The population of the cross-sectional research is 1458 students. A sample size of 616 participants was calculated with 50% prevalence, 95% confidence interval, and 3% margin of error. 650 students were targeted and reached. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form was applied. Descriptive statistics, student's t-test, one-way ANOVA, Welch, Bonferroni post-hoc tests, Games Howell, and Pearson correlation tests were used. Statistical significance level was accepted as p≤0.05.
Results: Scale total scores were higher for males(p<0.01), for those living in an extended family(p<0.01), for those whose mother is not working(p=0.03), and for those who stated they have economic difficulties(p<0.01). Scale total score(p<0.01) and sexual abuse score(p<0.01) of those with suicidal thoughts were higher. Scale total scores of students who attempted suicide were higher than those who did not(p<0.01).
Conclusions: Considering that students with higher trauma and sexual abuse scores also have higher suicidal thoughts and attempts, it is important to carry out a qualified monitoring in child adolescent care as a primary health care service.
Teşekkür
We thank Assoc. Dr. Semra Erdogan, Mersin University Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Department member for supporting the statistical analysis of the study.