@article{ref1,
title="Child maltreatment: cross-sectional survey of general dentists",
journal="Journal of forensic dental sciences",
year="2017",
author="Kaur, Harsimran and Vinod, K. S. and Singh, Harpreet and Arya, Lavina and Verma, Prateek and Singh, Baldeep",
volume="9",
number="1",
pages="24-30",
abstract="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. <br><br>AIM: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess knowledge and attitude of dental professionals on the exigent issue of child abuse. <br><br>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. <br><br>RESULTS: Although respondent dentists were aware of the diagnosis of child abuse, they were hesitant and unaware of the appropriate authority to report. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Increased instruction in the areas of recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect should be emphasized.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0975-1475",
doi="10.4103/jfo.jfds_6_15",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/jfo.jfds_6_15"
}