Vol. 11, Issue 4, Part D (2025)

Background: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) remain among the most critical public health and social issues worldwide, exerting lasting effects on the physical, emotional, and psychosocial well-being of children. Healthcare professionals and educators occupy pivotal roles in early identification, reporting, and prevention of such cases. However, their preparedness and awareness levels vary across disciplines.

Objective: To evaluate the awareness, recognition ability, and reporting preparedness regarding child abuse and neglect among healthcare professionals (paediatricians, pedodontists, and general dentists) and school teachers in and around Davanagere, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 206 participants paediatric dentists (n=40), general dentists (n=54), paediatricians (n=55), and school teachers (n=57) aged between 25-65 years with at least one year of professional experience. A pre-validated structured questionnaire assessed awareness, confidence in identifying abuse and neglect, legal literacy, barriers to reporting, and preferred training formats. Data were analysed using SPSS 27. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied, and p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Only 19.4% of participants had received formal training on CAN. Paediatricians’ demonstrated relatively higher awareness and confidence compared to dental professionals and teachers. Recognition of physical abuse indicators was highest for unexplained bruises and fractures (79.6%), particularly among paediatricians (98.2%). Teachers exhibited greater recognition of behavioural indicators (64.9%). Knowledge of legal obligations was inconsistent only 14.6% felt “very knowledgeable.” Major barriers included lack of knowledge on how to report (58.3%), fear of retaliation (36.4%), and uncertainty in identifying abuse (36.4%). Despite this, 65.5% considered training essential, and 93.2% expressed interest in attending workshops.

Conclusion: Substantial gaps exist in awareness, confidence, and reporting preparedness concerning CAN among healthcare professionals and teachers. Implementation of structured training, clear institutional protocols, and interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial to bridge these gaps and safeguard children effectively.