Exploring child abuse and neglect responses: Qualitative insights from oral health practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand

IF 3.4 2区心理学 Q1 FAMILY STUDIES

Child Abuse & Neglect Pub Date : 2025-08-28 DOI:10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107655

Heuiwon Han , Jane Koziol-McLain , Samuel D. Carrington , Amanda B. Lees , Zac Morse

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) remain significant concerns in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), with persistent inequities affecting indigenous Māori communities. Oral health practitioners (OHPs) are uniquely positioned to support CAN prevention and response through regular interactions with children via national dental care programs.

Objective

To explore the experiences and perspectives of OHPs in CAN prevention, identification, and response, and identify actionable strategies to enhance their responsiveness across dental settings.

Participants and setting

Twenty-one OHPs, including oral health therapists, dental therapists, dentists, dental specialists, and community oral health service managers, were recruited from diverse geographic regions and dental settings, including community clinics, private practices and school-based clinics.

Methods

A qualitative design was used, involving twelve semi-structured interviews and two focus groups conducted between August 2023 and August 2024. Reflective thematic analysis was conducted to ensure a deep, contextual understanding of participants' insights.

Results

Four themes were generated: opportunities to build relationships with families, needs for cultural and systemic awareness, collaborative approaches to child protection, and creating safer and more supportive practice environments. Two sub-themes emphasized the need for context-specific and straightforward guidelines and active workforce development in child protection.

Conclusions

OHPs' responses to CAN varied depending on access to training, organizational support, and contextual factors. Enhancing culturally safe, interdisciplinary training and establishing accessible, practical guidance are key strategies to support OHPs' protective role. Policy reform should prioritize these supports to ensure better outcomes for children and their families.

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探索儿童虐待和忽视的反应：定性的见解从口腔卫生从业者在新西兰奥特罗阿

儿童虐待和忽视（CAN）仍然是新西兰（NZ）的重大问题，持续存在的不平等现象影响着土著Māori社区。口腔健康从业者（ohp）在通过国家牙科保健计划与儿童定期互动来支持CAN预防和应对方面具有独特的地位。目的探讨职业健康服务人员在CAN预防、识别和应对方面的经验和观点，并确定可操作的策略，以提高他们在牙科环境中的响应能力。21名ohp，包括口腔健康治疗师、牙科治疗师、牙医、牙科专家和社区口腔健康服务经理，来自不同的地理区域和牙科机构，包括社区诊所、私人诊所和学校诊所。方法采用定性设计，于2023年8月至2024年8月进行12次半结构化访谈和2次焦点小组访谈。进行了反思性专题分析，以确保对参与者的见解有深入的背景理解。结果产生了四个主题：与家庭建立关系的机会，文化和系统意识的需求，儿童保护的协作方法，以及创造更安全和更支持性的实践环境。两个分主题强调在儿童保护方面需要有具体情况的直接准则和积极的劳动力发展。结论sohps对CAN的反应因培训、组织支持和环境因素的不同而不同。加强文化上安全的跨学科培训和建立可获得的实用指导是支持职业健康专员发挥保护作用的关键战略。政策改革应优先考虑这些支持，以确保儿童及其家庭获得更好的结果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Child Abuse & Neglect Multiple-

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

10.40%

发文量

397

期刊介绍： Official Publication of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect The International Journal, provides an international, multidisciplinary forum on all aspects of child abuse and neglect, with special emphasis on prevention and treatment; the scope extends further to all those aspects of life which either favor or hinder child development. While contributions will primarily be from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, medicine, nursing, law enforcement, legislature, education, and anthropology, the Journal encourages the concerned lay individual and child-oriented advocate organizations to contribute.