Child physical abuse: changes over ten years in the perceptions of Finnish dental professionals.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study aimed to assess perceptions and actions taken by Finnish dental professionals in suspected cases of child physical abuse (CPA) and to describe changes over 10 years.

Material and methods

Data collected from two child abuse and neglect (CAN) surveys among Finnish dental professionals, working in public health care, covering suspicions of CPA and actions taken as well as training on CPA issues, were compared. The chi-squared (χ2) test was used to analyze associations.

Results

In total, 625 (2008) and 1,025 (2019) questionnaires were completed. Respondents reported that they suspected CPA more frequently in 2008 than in 2019 (21.0% vs. 8.7%, p < 0.001). Out of all respondents, 1.1% had reported their concern to the police in 2019. Worries about the r

SUBMITTER: Alapulli H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11302474 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature