Keywords :
Child abuse and neglect, Dental neglect, Dental students
Citation Information :
Roy T, Jadhav G, Gawali PN, Shigli A, Hegde R, Rankawat R. Dental Students Perception and Knowledge toward Child Abuse and Neglect in Dentistry: A Cross-sectional Study. J South Asian Assoc Pediatr Dent 2023; 6 (1):19-24.
Aim: This study aimed to analyze the perception, attitude, knowledge, and experience of child abuse and neglect (CAN) among dental students in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The aim will help us come up with prevention strategies to help reduce the occurrence of CAN and also protect the children suffering.
Materials and methods: A total of 400 dental students were provided with a questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was carried out by using the obtained data.
Results: Dental students’ perception and knowledge about CAN are low and these professionals have poor attitudes and knowledge toward CAN by the code of conduct and law. The available information and education are also poor.
Conclusion: The results obtained from the study showed that there is a lack of knowledge and poor attitude and perception about CAN among dental students that prevents them from detecting and identifying suspected cases. Continuing dental education is required to enhance the ability of professionals to detect CAN cases. This study showed how we need to focus more on the training of dental professionals when concerned with cases of CAN.
Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect, www.childwelfare.gov
Managing Child Abuse, A Handbook for Medical Officers, World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia, New Delhi 2004.
Dong M, Giles WH, Felitti VJ, et al. Insights into causal pathways for ischemic heart disease: adverse childhood experiences study. Circulation 2004;110(13):1761–1766. DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000143074.54995.7F
da Fonseca MA, Feigal RJ, ten Bensel RW. Dental aspects of 1248 cases of child maltreatment on file at a major county hospital. Pediatr Dent 1992;14(3):152–157.
Child Maltreatment, World Health Organization, 19th September, 2022, www.who.intnewsroomfactsheetdetail.
Child Abuse, Humanian, 25th June 2021, www.humanian.orgabuse.
Saleem SM, Jan SS. Modified Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale updated for the year 2021. Indian J Forensic Community Med 2021;8(1):1–3. DOI: 10.18231/j.ijfcm.2021.001
Rose-Clarke K, Pradhan H, Rath S, et al. Adolescent girls’ health, nutrition, and wellbeing in rural eastern India: a descriptive, cross-sectional community-based study. BMC Public Health 2019;19(1):673. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7053-1
Davis GR, Domoto PK, Levy RL. The dentist's role in child abuse and neglect, issues, identification, and management. ASDC J Dent Child 1979;46(3):185–192.
Dalledone M, Correr GM, Pizzatto E, et al. Child abuse: perception and knowledge by public health dentistry teams in Brazil. Braz J Oral Sci 2015;14(3). DOI: 10.1590/1677-3225v14n3a10
Patil B, Hegde S, Yaji A. Child abuse reporting: role of dentist in India-a review. J Indian Acad Oral Med Radiol 2017;29(1):74. DOI: 10.4103/jiaomr.JIAOMR_30_16
Nagelberg RH. Child abuse awareness in the dental profession. Dental Econ 2015;105:1–9.
Manea S, Favero GA, Stellini E, et al. Dentists’ perceptions, attitudes, knowledge, and experience about child abuse and neglect in northeast Italy. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2007;32(1):19–26. DOI: 10.17796/jcpd.32.1.f920721252jx3614
Manavazhaghan D, Ahmed N, Uma Maheswari TN. Dental neglect in pediatric patients among Indian population: a review of case reports. Int J Forensic Odontol 2016;1(1):4. DOI: 10.4103/2542-5013.185691
Uldum B, Christensen HN, Welbury R, et al. How Danish dentists and dental hygienists handle their role in child abuse and neglect matters. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica 2017;75(5):332–337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00016357.2017.1307448
