Dentist and domestic violence: knowledge of professionals in the public and private sectors

Abstract

Objetive: To evaluate the knowledge of dentists about domestic violence against children, women and elderly in the city of Guaratinguetá, SP, Brasil. Methods: Questionnaires with multiple choice questions were applied to 40 dental professionals of the public health sector and 40 dental professionals of the private sector, who were randomly selected in the city of Guaratinguetá, SP, Brasil. The collected data were statistically analysed by the Chi-Square test (pd"0,05). Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the analysed groups.A low percentage of dentists affirmed have already treated children, women and elderly victims of domestic violence. Conclusion:  The dental professionals evaluated and this survey know the importance of the dentist related to domestic violence, but they present some difficulties in the identification of cases as well as on how to proceed when faced with domestic violence.