Author/Authors :
ÖZAKAR, Selen Hitit Üniversitesi - Sağlık Yüksekokulu, Turkey , GÖZEN, Duygu İstanbul Üniversitesi - Florence Nightingale Hemşirelik Fakültesi - Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Hemşireliği AD, Turkey
Abstract :
Early childhood masturbation is a situation which the child’s stimulates his/her sexual organ, sweats, blushes and puffs, yet not accompanied by a medical disorder, besides annoying the parents. The beginning of masturbation behaviours coincide with any period of childhood, and it is more frequently observed especially among 3-5 year old girls. Early childhood masturbation is a very crucial issue among paediatricians and child psychiatry, but the clinical studies having been carried out up to now are limited. In this study it is discussed early childhood masturbation and nurse’s role. There are some problems with the diagnosis of the masturbation due to the fact that it is not known to be observed in children as an illness. It is quite probable to come across children whose seizures do not decrease despite having been examined with detailed radiologic methods for a long time and taken anti-epileptic medicine. It might be sufficient to have a detailed medical history to differentiate masturbation from other illnesses. It is reported that there are many reasons causing childhood masturbation, but the most common reason is that child’s not being happy about his/her relationship with others. It is notified that the child masturbation is a healthy behaviour unless it is excessive and hurts the child physically. However, if pain and damage on the genital organs occur, if feelings such as shame and guiltiness have started to appear, if this behaviour prevents the child from daily activities by being excessive and if the parents go over and warn against the behaviour exorbitantly, this behaviour, not being harmful under normal circumstances, could be unfavourably for the child. As a paediatric nurse, the reasons which can cause local irritation such as wrong clothing, pinworm, vulvovaginitis should be scrutinized and if there are, they should be removed, and the parents should be informed about right clothing. The first step to give information about child masturbation to the parents who consult with this complaint to the healthcare organizations is to inform them about child masturbation and calm them down. There is no place for punishing, embarrassing and scolding in the treatment. Parents are advised to avoid from manners which could give rise to masturbation such as slapping or petting on the genital and gluteal area. It is assumed that if these behavioural approaches are adopted, the problem and its effect on the family could alleviate.
