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Child abuse: perception and knowledge by Public Health Dentistry teams in Brazil
Dalledone, Mariana; de Paola, Ana Paula Borges; Correr, Gisele Maria; Pizzatto, Eduardo; de Souza, Juliana Feltrin & Losso, Estela Maris
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the experience, knowledge and attitudes of dentists and oral health technicians
(OHTs) who work in Basic Health Units in the city of Curitiba, PR, Brazil, regarding cases of
abuse against children and adolescents. Methods: In this observational study, three hundred
eighty-three questionnaires (validated for Brazilian Portuguese) were sent to dentists and OHTs
who work in public health units. The response rate was 38.12% (n = 146) for dentists and 40%
(n = 77) for OHTs. Results: The mean age of the dentists was 40±8.29 years, and 53.43%
treated more than 10 children per week. The OHTs’ mean age was 45.39±9.71 years, and
62.35% attended to more than 10 children per week. Although the dentists perceived 185
suspected cases of maltreatment, only 35.67% were reported to authorities. In the OHT group,
22.08% were reported to authorities. Sixty-eight dentists (47%) and 11 OHTs (14.28%) reported
having treated at least one case of orofacial trauma in the previous 6 months, totalizing 166
orofacial traumas. About the mechanism for reporting suspected cases, 83% of the respondents
knew how to report. Over 50% of the responses concerning why the professionals did not report
cases of physical violence against children included fear of retaliation and difficulties in diagnosis.
Conclusions: Suspected cases of maltreatment against children and adolescents are
underreported. More information is required to recognize suspected maltreatment cases and
notify authorities.
Keywords
child abuse; dentists; Public Health Dentistry
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