Knowledge and awareness of dentists on child abuse and neglect in Türkiye
Highlights
Abstract
Aim: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) may be defined as physical, sexual and/or psychological maltreatment of the child. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of dentists about CAN, to give basic information on the topic and to take feedback. Methods: It was an observational study that the questionnaire that consisted 26 questions in four parts was sent by e-mail with an electronic link via Turkish Dental Association to Turkish dentists. At the end of the questionnaire, a short education by power-point presentation was given to volunteered participants and self-competence feedbacks were taken. Results: A total of 326 dentists (113 males and 213 females) aged 23-70 years, answered the questionnaire. Only 16.2% of dentists reported that they know their legal rights and information on reporting CAN. 79.5% of dentists noted that they did not receive education on CAN during their undergraduate years. 95.6% of the participants volunteered to attend the education provided. Feedbacks showed that information obtained by the education had a beneficial impact on dentists’ awareness and knowledge. Conclusions: Turkish dentists’ knowledge and awareness of CAN were inadequate. Educational efforts may enable them to recognize cultural misperceptions, take necessary precautions, to be confident in reporting child abuse and neglect without hesitation and fulfill their legal obligations.
Keywords: Child Abuse; Child Maltreatment; Child Neglect; Dental Education; Public Health Dentistry
Author Affiliations
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ege University, İzmir, Türkiye (Correspondence: asikasli95@gmail.com)
- Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ege University, İzmir, Türkiye
References
- World Health Organization. Global Status Report on Violence Prevention 2014. Geneva, Switzerland; 2014. [Internet] 2022 [cited 2022 Oct 14]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564793
- World Health Organization. Report of the Consultation on Child Abuse Prevention. Geneva, Switzerland; 1999. [Internet] 2022 [cited 2022 Oct 14]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/65900
- World Health Organization. Child Maltreatment. Physically Abuse As Children. Geneva, Switzerland; 2017. [Internet] 2022 [cited 2022 Oct 14]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment
- Hinchliffe J. Forensic odontology, part 5.Child abuse issues. Br Dent J 2011;210:423-428
- Mathews B, Collin-Vézina D. Child Sexual Abuse: Toward a Conceptual Model and Definition. Trauma, Violence, Abus 2019;20:131-148
- Fisher-Owens SA, Lukefahr JL, Tate AR. Oral and dental aspects of child abuse and neglect. Pediatrics 2017;140:e20171487
- Harris JC, Baker SR, Elcock C. Paediatric dentists’ role in child protection practice: Progress over time? Int J Paediatr Dent 2022;32:714-723
- Cavalcanti AL. Prevalence and characteristics of injuries to the head and orofacial region in physically abused children and adolescents – a retrospective study in a city of the Northeast of Brazil. Dent Traumatol 2010;26:149-153
- World Health Organization. Guidelines for the health sector response to child maltreatment. Geneva, Switzerland; 2019. [Internet] 2022 [cited 2022 Oct 14]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-guidelines-for-the-health-sector-response-to-child-maltreatment
- Anees W, Franco A, Manica S. Non-accidental head and neck injuries in children and adolescents. J Forensic Odontostomatol 2022;40:42-52
- Özgür N, Ballıkaya E, Güngör HC, Ataç AS. Turkish paediatric dentists’ knowledge, experiences and attitudes regarding child physical abuse. Int Dent J 2020;70:145-151
- Kural D, Abbasoglu Z, Tanboga İ. Awareness and experience regarding child abuse and neglect among dentists in Turkey. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;44:100-106
- Buldur B, Büyükkök Ç, Cavalcanti AL. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding child abuse and neglect among dentists in Turkey. Braz Oral Res 2022;36:1-9
- Dimitrova M, Kondeva V, Boeva T. A Study of Bulgarian Dental Practitioners’ Knowledge about Child Abuse and Neglect. Int J Science and Research 2015;4:133-204
- Al Hajeri H, Al Halabi M, Kowash M, Khamis AH, Welbury R, Hussein I. Assessment of the knowledge of United Arab Emirates dentists of Child Maltreatment, protection and safeguarding. Eur J Paediatr Dent 2018;19:105-118
- Harris CM, Welbury R, Cairns AM. The Scottish dental practitioner’s role in managing child abuse and neglect. Br Dent J 2013;214:1-5
- Azevedo MS, Goettems ML, Brito A, Possebon AP, Domingues J, Demarco FF, et al. Child maltreatment: a survey of dentists in southern Brazil. Braz Oral Res 2012;26:5-11
- Laud A, Gizani S, Maragkou S, Welbury S, Papagiannoulis L. Child protection training, experience, and personal views of dentists in the prefecture of Attica, Greece. Int J Paediatr Dent 2013;23:64-71
- Markovic N, Muratbegovic AA, Kobaslija S, Bajric E, Selimovic-Dragas M, Huseinbegovic A et al. Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Child Abuse and Neglect. Mater Sociomed 2015;27:372-375
- Cukovic‐Bagic I, Dumancic J, Kujundzic Tiljak M, Drvaric I, Boric B, Kopic V, et al. Croatian dentists’ knowledge, experience, and attitudes in regard to child abuse and neglect. Int J Pediatr Dent 2015;25:444-450
- Al-Dabaan R, Newton JT, Asimakopoulou K. Knowledge, attitudes, and experience of dentists living in Saudi Arabia toward child abuse and neglect. Saudi Dent J 2014;26:79-87
- Al-Habsi SA, Roberts GJ, Attari N, Parekh S. A survey of attitudes, knowledge and practice of dentists in London towards child protection. Are children receiving dental treatment at the Eastman Dental Hospital likely to be on the child protection register? Br Dent J 2009;206:212-213
- Zeanah CH, Humphreys KL. Child Abuse and Neglect. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2018;57:637-644
- Rodrigues JLSA, Lima APB, Nagata JY,Rigo L, Cericato GO, Franco A, et al. Domestic violence against children detected and managed in the routine of dentistry – A systematic review. J Forensic Leg Med 2016;43:34-41
- Sacco MA, Caputo F, Ricci P, Sicilia F, De Aloe L, Bonetta CF, et al. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on domestic violence: The dark side of home isolation during quarantine. Med Leg J 2020;88:71-73
- Korbin JE. Culture and child maltreatment: Cultural competence and beyond. Child Abuse Negl 2002;26:637-644
- İnanici SY, Çelik E, Hıdıroğlu S, Özdemir M, İnanıcı MA. Factors associated with physicians’ assessment and management of child abuse and neglect: A mixed method study. J Forensic Leg Med 2020;73:101972
- Tirosh E, Offer Shechter S, Cohen A, Jaffe M. Attitudes towards corporal punishment and reporting of abuse. Child Abuse Negl 2003;27:929-937
- Tor H. Türkiye’de Çocuk İşçiliğinin Boyutları. J World Turks/Zeitschrift für die Welt der Türken 2010;2:25-42
- Orhon FS, Ulukol B, Bingoler B, Gulnar SB. Attitudes of Turkish parents, pediatric residents, and medical students toward child disciplinary practices. Child Abuse Negl 2006;30:1081-1092
- Özcebe H, Küçük Biçer B. Önemli bir kız çocuk ve kadın sorunu: Çocuk evlilikler. Türk Pediatri Arşivi 2013;48(2):86-93
- Duman C, Al-Batayneh OB, Ahmad S, Durward CS, Kobylinska A, Vieira AR, et al. Self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and practice of final-year dental students in relation to child abuse: A multi-centre study. Int J Paediatr Dent 2021;31:801-809
- Hazar Bodrumlu E, Avşar A, Arslan S. Assessment of knowledge and attitudes of dental students in regard to child abuse in Turkey. Eur J Dent Educ 2018;22:40-46
- Cairns A, Murphy M, Welbury R. An overview and pilot study of the dental practitioner’s role in child protection. Child Abus Rev 2004;13:65-72
Article Info
Received: 06 July 2022
Accepted: 10 October 2022
Online First: 28 December 2022
148 views
Full Text
File | Downloads |
---|---|
![]() |
267 |
How to Cite
Aslı Aşık, Ece Eden. Knowledge and awareness of dentists on child abuse and neglect in Türkiye. Contemp Pediatr Dent 2022:3(3):92-102.