Radiographers experience with child abuse : An interview study from Bhutan

Abstract: Every child has the right to be protected from abuse, violence and exploitation. Children in Bhutan today have rights by law not to be subject to physical abuse, yet UNICEF statistics show that over 64% of children have been physically abused at least once in their lives. There are four types of child maltreatment, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. This study focuses on physical abuse. According to the Youth Development Fund of Bhutan there is a lack of knowledge to address child protection issues in the country. The aim was to investigate the radiographers experience and perceived responsibility when suspecting child abuse. A qualitative interview study with inductive approach was used to answer the study’s purpose. Five radiographers were interviewed at the national referral hospital in Thimphu. The result shows that there is a lack of knowledge about child abuse, but the radiographers are aware of their responsibility by law to report suspected cases of child abuse. The radiographers perceive that their responsibility lay in taking as good images as possible. The radiographers are doing their best with the resources available but that is not enough to protect the children against violence.