Peer-reviewed article
Barriers to the prevention of violence against children identified by healthcare professionals: a scoping review
Joana Rodrigues, Silvia Luz, Susana Margarida Rodrigues Custódio, Ana Isabel dos Santos Pastorinho, Susana Queiroz Santos et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examined barriers that healthcare professionals face when trying to prevent violence against children. The analysis of 45 studies found that the main obstacles are inadequate training and knowledge, lack of confidence among professionals, heavy workloads, and insufficient time. Cultural, social, and organizational factors also create barriers. The review concludes that better training, improved working conditions, and stronger collaboration between institutions are needed.
Key points
- Barriers were most frequently reported in relation to identification and reporting of violence against children
- Deficits in knowledge and training were a recurrent challenge
- Professional insecurity and excessive workload limit prevention efforts
- Limited time availability affects healthcare professionals' ability to prevent violence
- Cultural, social, and organizational factors are significant cross-cutting obstacles
Limitations
This is a scoping review that maps barriers rather than testing solutions, so it cannot provide evidence about which interventions are most effective. The review focuses on healthcare professionals' perspectives and does not directly measure outcomes for children.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To map the barriers identified by healthcare professionals to the prevention of violence against children. METHOD: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The search was conducted using the MedLine, CINAHL, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, ERIC, Cochrane, MedicLatina, Scopus, Web of Science, RCAAP, and MedNar databases. RESULTS: A total of 1,674 publications were identified, with 45 studies included in the review. Barriers were most frequently reported in relation to the identification and reporting of violence against children. Recurrent challenges included deficits in knowledge and training, professional insecurity, excessive workload, and limited time availability. Cultural, social, and organizational factors also emerged as significant cross-cutting obstacles. CONCLUSION: The need for targeted training, improved working conditions, and strengthened inter-institutional collaboration is highlighted as a priority area identified in the literature to address the complex and interconnected barriers faced by healthcare professionals in the prevention and combat of violence against children.