Zespół dziecka potrzÄ sanego w świadomości rodziców i personelu medycznego w Polsce

IntroductionShaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a set of symptoms caused by shaking a child and/or by head impact trauma. SBS mostly affects children under the age of 2.Aim of the studyThe aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of SBS, the causes and consequences of its phenomenon and to embed the whole issue in the context of violence and the use of corporal punishment on children.Material and methodsThe method used in the research was an original questionnaire consisting of 34 questions. The study involved 458 adults; 54.8% were representatives of the medical staff and 45.2% constituted parents with children from 4 to 10 years of age. Women outnumbered male participants - they accounted for 85% of the respondents. The mean age of the study group was 36.5 years for the parents, while the average age of the medical staff was 41.7 years.Results45% of the respondents admitted that they had inflicted the physical punishment on their child. 46% of them had witnessed the situation when the child was a victim of physical violence in a public place. Among the respondents who witnessed the violence, 29% reacted to prevent it. 40% of the surveyed had heard of the Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). 21% of the people considered stated that they had shaken the child to calm it.Conclusions1.Almost half of the respondents use physical punishment on their children.2.The vast majority of the respondents, including the medical staff, do not respond while witnessing physical violence being used against a child in a public place.3.The knowledge of the medical staff about the Shaken Baby Syndrome is not adequate, which is particularly alarming since the patients are young children.4.Almost half of the respondents do not know that shaking a child can lead to a vision loss or cause the death of the child.