Reporting suspicion of child maltreatment - a 5 yr follow-up of public dental health care workers in Norway

Information sharing between the dental healthcare and child welfare services regarding child maltreatment—A repeated cross‐sectional study in Norway

“…Reports of suspected child maltreatment vary across countries with frequencies ranging between 3% and 47% and with the Nordic countries presenting the highest frequency rates of referrals. 7,10,15,16 In Norway, a total of 60% of PDHS dental healthcare workers confirmed reports of suspected child maltreatment in 2014, whereas a five-year follow-up study revealed an increase in reporting behavior of 18.5% at the individual level. 12,13,15 A similar increase in child maltreatment has been reported in Scotland.…”

“…7,10,15,16 In Norway, a total of 60% of PDHS dental healthcare workers confirmed reports of suspected child maltreatment in 2014, whereas a five-year follow-up study revealed an increase in reporting behavior of 18.5% at the individual level. 12,13,15 A similar increase in child maltreatment has been reported in Scotland. 17 Nevertheless, according to the Swedish dental healthcare services, suspicion of child maltreatment occurs more often than filing reports to the CWS.…”

“…18 Based on the information received from the PDHS, the CWS makes informed decisions about further action to be taken to support the child and their parents-a process that has been labeled "protection tunnel." 1,15 Thus, the primary tasks of the CWSs are to decide whether to dismiss or open a case, and if opened, gather and clarify information from relevant sources familiar with the reported case and make decisions whether to take measures or close the case. 1,7 In accordance with evidence of an increasing trend in dismissed reports, only one-fourth of reports of concern sent from the Norwegian PDHS end with measures taken by the CWS.…”

“…1,7 In accordance with evidence of an increasing trend in dismissed reports, only one-fourth of reports of concern sent from the Norwegian PDHS end with measures taken by the CWS. 13,15,19 Moreover, only about half of the Norwegian dental healthcare workers confirm having received inquiries from the CWS in 2014. 13,15 The likelihood of receiving inquiry from the CWS has been found to be highest in small municipalities, indicating that there might be a closer collaboration between PDHS and CWS in smaller than in larger municipalities.…”

“…13,15,19 Moreover, only about half of the Norwegian dental healthcare workers confirm having received inquiries from the CWS in 2014. 13,15 The likelihood of receiving inquiry from the CWS has been found to be highest in small municipalities, indicating that there might be a closer collaboration between PDHS and CWS in smaller than in larger municipalities. [10][11][12] These accord with evidence from international studies demonstrating a persistent shortfall between expected standards and dentists' self-reported child protection practices and indicate a…”