PERCEPTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE OF PEDIATRICIANS AND PEDIATRIC DENTISTS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the perceptions and knowledge of pediatricians and pediatric dentists from the city of Campina Grande, PB, Brazil, about child abuse. Method: The non-probabilistic sample was composed of 63 professionals (28 pediatricians and 35 pediatric dentists). A questionnaire was the research instrument. The data were organized, exported to Epi-Info 3.4 software and subjected to statistical analysis by the chi-square (p<0.05). Results: Most professionals (65%) declared not to have received information about child abuse during graduation. All pediatricians (100%) and 88.6% of the pediatric dentists considered themselves able to identify cases of physical violence against children in their working environment. As much as 78.6% of the pediatricians and 34.3% of the pediatric dentists had already suspected of child abuse and observed an association between their area of expertise and the suspicion of child abuse (P=0.001). The presence of injuries was the most frequent clinical evidence for the suspicion of abuse (67.7%). The Tutelary Council was the most commonly cited organ for protection of children and adolescents (41.3%). Most professionals (68.2%) affirmed to know their obligation to report cases of violence against children and adolescents, but pediatricians had better knowledge of the compulsory notification than dentists (92.8% versus 48.6%). Conclusion: The pediatric dentists had less knowledge of child abuse, demonstrating the need of an adequate training of these professionals during graduation in order to make them capable to identify cases of physical violence against children in their working environments. DESCRIPTORS: Violence. Medicine. Dentistry.