KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES AMONG CALIFORNIA DENTAL-CARE PROVIDERS REGARDING CHILD-ABUSE AND NEGLECT

The authors surveyed California dentists about their knowledge, attitu des and practices regarding child abuse and neglect. Only 16 percent o f the respondents claimed to have seen or suspected a case of child ab use or neglect during the preceding five years, and only 6 percent cla imed to have reported such a case. The authors also found that the res pondents had little knowledge of California law regarding the reportin g of such cases and little information or training in diagnosing and r eporting suspected child abuse and neglect.