NCJ Number
165338
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1997) Pages: 171-179
Date Published
1997
Length
9 pages
Annotation
To assess physician attitudes and practices in controversial areas of child abuse and neglect, anonymous questionnaires were mailed to pediatricians, family practitioners, and emergency medicine physicians in Pima County (Tucson) and Arizona (statewide).
Abstract
The effects of respondent characteristics on responses to each item were analyzed. A total of 393 questionnaires (49.3 percent) were returned. Responses differed according to gender, age, specialty, and practice or training status. Females estimated a higher percentage of adult women had been sexually abused as children (26.6 percent compared to 21.6 percent for men) and a lower incidence of false accusations when sexual abuse was alleged in custody disputes (48.1 percent compared to 56.1 percent for men). Older physicians were more likely to refer cases of sexual abuse to a specialist, were more concerned about false reports of child abuse, and gave higher estimates of the percentage of adolescent child sexual abuse offenders who could be rehabilitated (54.4 percent compared to 43.4 percent for younger physicians). Pediatricians expected a lower percentage of sexual abuse exams to be positive than did family practitioners (32.6 percent compared to 40.7 percent for family practitioners). Pediatricians were less likely to agree to involvement of child protective services (CPS) in failure-to-thrive cases or to criminal prosecution of maternal drug use during pregnancy than either family practitioners or emergency physicians. Respondents were uncertain that reporting to CPS would lead to an improvement in the child's welfare. Exposition and explanation of physician attitudes may benefit medical education about child abuse. 4 tables, 42 references, and appended questionnaire