Child abuse in childhood and adolescence
knowledge and attitudes on the part of health professionals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7308/aodontol/2014.50.2.03Keywords:
Health knowledge, attitudes, practice, Child abuseAbstract
Objective: To verify the knowledge and attitudes on the part of healthcare professionals from the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and the Family Healthcare Center (NASF) from the city of Patos, Pernambuco, Brazil, concerning suspected cases of child abuse in children and adolescents.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, carried out with 200 professionals who responded to a questionnaire on this topic. A comparative analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics, using Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s Exact test (p < 0.050).
Results: Most of the professionals reported having knowledge on child abuse (85.0%); considered themselves able to diagnose cases of child abuse (67.5 %) and stated that they knew how to act when faced with a suspect case (76.5%), with the most reported action being the filing of a complaint with the Child Protection Agency (49.0%). Professionals with a higher education level showed a better performance regarding the knowledge of the main signs of child abuse (p = 0.001), as well as a more favorable conduct in relation to the non-failure to report a suspected case (p = 0.010). This same group received more information about abuses during their professional training (p = 0.010). The interest in attending training courses on the subject was higher among those with up to a technical education level (p = 0.002).
Conclusion: The professionals presented a satisfactory knowledge on the subject, with a better performance observed among those with a higher education level. Comments from participants denoted interest in the subject, as well as a desire to empower themselves on the subject. What stands out, therefore, is the need for a greater inclusion of this issue in professional training courses professionals, especially among those with up to a technical education.
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