[Health professionals' reporting of family violence against children and adolescents].
Reporting family violence against children has two main benefits: it protects the child from the violence and improves epidemiological control of violence. Health professionals play an important role in this area, since they are required to report any known or even suspected case of violence. Nevertheless, when and how to report has been questioned recently. This paper discusses the problems faced by health professionals and suggests specific solutions to the Brazilian case. The authors conclude that it is necessary: (a) to clarify the legal notion of violence in Brazil, specifically the concept of suspicion; (b) to create technical manuals to guide action in this area; (c) to improve the number and quality of services to assist the population; (d) to improve studies and discussion of the consequences of reporting, mainly concerning the notion of justice transmitted to Brazilian families through this practice.
Goncalves
Hebe Signorini
HS
Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagão Gesteira, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brasil. sigoncal@ism.com.br
Ferreira
Ana Lúcia
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D019221:Mandatory Reporting