Health Professionals: Identifying and Reporting Child Physical Abuse-a Scoping Review

Health professionals play a significant role in identifying and reporting child physical abuse (CPA). However, several studies have pointed out non-reporting behavior among these professionals, evidencing difficulties identifying and reporting suspected cases. This review aimed to explore the frequency and possible barriers in identifying and reporting CPA by health professionals worldwide and to identify associated factors. This scoping review was conducted in the Pubmed, Web Of Science, Scopus, and SciELO databases between July 2019 and December 2020. Analytical and qualitative observational epidemiological studies were selected and published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, with data on the identification and/or reporting of CPA by health professionals. Twenty studies fulfilled the criteria of this review. The studies were conducted with dentists, nurses, pediatricians, and general practitioners. The frequency of identification of CPA ranged from 50% to 89%, while the frequency of reporting ranged from 8% to 47%. This review revealed that health professionals had a low frequency of reporting of CPA, especially for dentists. In addition, several associated factors and barriers in the identification and reporting of CPA were identified in the studies. These were discussed in five main themes: training and continuing education in CPA, impact on professional practice, experiences and perceptions about child protection services, the threshold for suspicion of the professional, and the professional category.

Is Binge Drinking Associated with Suicidal Behaviors among Brazilian Adolescents?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between suicidal behaviors and binge drinking among Brazilian adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2,476 students 14 to 19 years of age from 26 public high schools in the city of Olinda, Brazil. Data collection occurred between March and June 2018 through the self-administered Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Descriptive analysis and Poisson regression (p < 0.05, 95%CI) were performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of suicidal ideation, planning and attempt in the previous 12 months was 23.7%, 17.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Suicidal ideation was associated with binge drinking one to two days (PR:1.053, 95%CI:1.011-1.096) and ≥ three days in the previous 30 days (PR:1.069, 95%CI:1.016-1.125), sadness/hopelessness in the previous 12 months (PR:1.313, 95%CI:1.267-1.360), a report of family physical aggression in the previous 12 months (PR:1.111, 95%CI:1.068-1.155), the female sex (PR:1.082, 95%CI:1.049-1.115) and a non-nuclear family (PR:1.037, 95%CI:1.004-1.071). Suicidal planning was associated with sadness/hopelessness in the previous 12 months (PR:1.257, 95%CI:1.214-1.302), report of family physical aggression in the previous 12 months (PR:1.110, 95%CI:1.065-1.156) and the female sex (PR:1.072, 95%CI:1.041-1.104). Suicide attempt was associated with binge drinking ≥ three days in the previous 30 days (PR:1.062, 95%CI:1.008-1.119), sadness/hopelessness in the previous 12 months (PR:1.202, 95%CI:1.161-1.244), report of family physical aggression in the previous 12 months (PR:1.105, 95%CI:1.060-1.153) and the female sex (PR:1.064, 95%CI:1.034-1.095). The Catholic (PR:0.938, 95%CI:0.899-0.979; PR:0.925, 95%CI:0.888-0.9865; PR:0.937, 95%CI:0.899-0.977) and Evangelical (PR:0.956, 95%CI:0.922-0.992; PR:0.954, 95%CI:0.919-0.991) religions acted as a possible protective factor against suicidal behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Suicidal ideation and attempt were associated with binge drinking.

Determinant factors for immediate care seeking after traumatic dental injury among Brazilian children

The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of immediate care seeking after traumatic dental injury (TDI) in primary dentition and its association with the children's characteristics, socioeconomic status, and TDI characteristics. This was a cross-sectional study with dental records of children aged 9 months to 6 years who attended a reference center in TDI in primary dentition between 2007 and 2018. Immediate care seeking after TDI, child's characteristics, sociodemographic conditions and TDI characteristics were collected. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analysis with robust variance were performed (p < 0.05; 95%CI). Among the 493 dental records, 61.1% (n = 301) were of males and 50.5% (n = 249) were from children aged 2 years or less. More than one third of the sample (36.9%; n = 182) sought immediate care after TDI. Among the types of TDI, the prevalence of soft tissue injuries was 59.0% (n = 291), while 51.7% (n = 255) were hard tissue injuries and 54.0% (n = 266) were supporting tissue injuries. Immediate care seeking after TDI was higher in children who needed suture (PR: 1.39; 95%CI: 1.01-1.92. p = 0.039), had luxation (lateral, intrusion, or extrusion) (PR: 2.36; 95%CI: 1.36-4.08. p = 0.002) or avulsion (PR: 2.18; 95%CI: 1.28-3.70. p = 0.004). The need for suture, luxation (lateral, intrusion and extrusion), and avulsion were determinant factors for the immediate care seeking after TDI, regardless of the child's characteristics and socioeconomic status.

Association between cigarette use and adolescents' behavior

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of cigarette use among adolescents and to identify associated health risk behaviors.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study with a representative sample, composed of 1059 adolescents between 13 and 19 years old, enrolled in primary and secondary public schools of Olinda, Pernambuco, in 2014. Information was obtained through self-administered questionnaires (validated version of YRBS 2007). Cigarette experimentation was defined as smoking at least once in life. Adolescents who smoked at least one day within 30 days prior to the survey were considered current smokers. Most students were female and 16 years old or older.

RESULTS

Almost 30% used it in life and about 10% smoked within the 30 days before the survey. Suicidal ideation (PR = 1.51, 95%CI 1.25–1.82), alcohol use (PR = 1.41, 95%CI 1.03–1.92), marijuana (PR = 1.64, 95%CI 1.37–1.96), excessive alcohol consumption (PR = 1.57, 95%CI 1.15–2.16) and sexual experience (PR = 1.78, 95%CI 1.43–2.21) have increased the risk of using cigarettes. Feelings of sadness (PR = 1.70, 95%CI 1.22–2.36), alcohol use (PR=2.40, 95%CI 1.12–5.12), excessive alcohol consumption (PR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.24–5.38), marijuana (PR = 2.31, 95%CI.57–3.39) and cocaine (PR = 1.99, 95%CI.32–3.01) increased the risk of cigarette use within the 30 days before the survey.

CONCLUSIONS

Cigarette use among adolescents from Olinda was high, being considered higher than the national prevalence. Possible factors associated with cigarette use were drug use (alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine) and behaviors related to sexual experience, feelings of sadness and suicidal ideation.