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Child maltreatment: Cross-sectional survey of general dentists
Harsimran Kaur1, K S Vinod2, Harpreet Singh3
1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Background:
Child abuse continues to be a social menace causing both physical and emotional trauma to benevolent children. Census has shown that nearly 50-75% of child abuse include trauma to mouth, face, and head. Thus, dental professionals are in a strategic position to identify physical and emotional manifestations of abuse.
Aim:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess knowledge and attitude of dental professionals on the exigent issue of child abuse.
Methodology:
With prior consent, a 20-question survey including both multiple choice and dichotomous (yes/no) questions was mailed to 120 state-registered general dentists and the data collected were subjected to statistical analysis.
Statistical Analysis:
The overall response rate to the questionnaires was 97%. Lack of knowledge about dentist role in reporting child abuse accounted to 55% in the reasons for hesitancy to report. Pearson's Chi-square test did not show any significant difference between male and female regarding the reason for hesitancy to report and legal obligation of dentists.
Results:
Although respondent dentists were aware of the diagnosis of child abuse, they were hesitant and unaware of the appropriate authority to report.
Conclusion:
Increased instruction in the areas of recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect should be emphasized.
