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KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES REGARDING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
Nina Markovic1, Amra Arslanagic Muratbegovic1, Sedin Kobaslija1
1Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Materia Socio-Medica
|February 19, 2016
Summary
Dentists in Bosnia and Herzegovina rarely receive training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect (CAN). Consequently, most dentists lack the knowledge and confidence to report suspected cases, highlighting a critical need for enhanced CAN education.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dental Education
- Child Welfare
Background:
- Child abuse and neglect (CAN) poses a significant public health challenge.
- Healthcare professionals, including dentists, play a crucial role in identifying and reporting CAN.
- Limited data exists on dentists' knowledge and attitudes towards CAN in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of dentists in BH concerning the signs and symptoms of CAN.
- To assess dentists' understanding of CAN reporting procedures.
- To determine the level of education dentists have received regarding CAN.
Main Methods:
- A structured questionnaire was administered to 300 dentists in BH.
- Data from 210 dentists were included in the final statistical analysis (70% response rate).
- Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were employed for data analysis (p<0.05).
Main Results:
- 80% of dentists reported receiving no training on CAN recognition and reporting.
- 66% of dentists had never suspected CAN in their practice.
- Only 9% of dentists would report suspected CAN, with lack of knowledge on reporting procedures being the primary barrier (43%).
Conclusions:
- Dentists in BH demonstrate a significant deficit in knowledge and awareness regarding CAN.
- There is an urgent need for effective educational interventions to improve dentists' capacity to identify and report CAN.
- Enhanced training is essential to empower dentists to fulfill their role in protecting children from abuse and neglect.