The experiences of physical violence in childhood of Nursing undergraduate students

Abstract

This research had as its object of study: “The experiences of physical violence in childhood of nursing undergraduate students.” The objectives were: a) to review the occurrence of physical violence in childhood students of nursing; b) to characterize the factors surrounding the experience of violence; and c) to identify the effects in adulthood of the violence suffered in childhood. The quantitative descriptive methods were used. The study subjects were 190 students in an undergraduate course in nursing. This research was approved by the Ethics in Research Committee (2102-CEP/HUPE Project). From the total, 61 (32%) of the study subjects experienced violence in childhood, predominantly at home, and the most frequent offenders are relatives. Most students believe spanking sometimes is necessary, and 9 (14%) of those were abused in childhood reported that the experience reflected in their adult life. Thus, family violence in childhood was important for students, and corporal punishment was a kind of ordinary education. We suggested approaching this problem more deeply in the undergraduate courses in nursing, promoting the prevention of violence and supporting those who experienced violence in childhood and those who experience it nowadays.