Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the oral health self-perception and the influence of dental treatment on the multidisciplinary approach of adolescent victims of sexual abuse. Material and Methods: It was adopted a qualitative methodology that emphasized the deepening and comprehension of the answers obtained. Six adolescents, from both genders, victims of sexual abuse in the last two years, aged between 10 and 15, took part of the study. A questionnaire was applied before and after the dental treatment in order to evaluate changes in the self-perception and self-esteem of the individuals. The answers were categorized into two thematic axes with the use of the qualitative content analysis: self-perception and self-esteem. Psychological attendance prior and after the dental interventions enabled to comprehend the changes observed. Results: The participants presented a coherent self-perception in relation to the present clinical situation and an increase of their self-esteem after the dental interventions. Conclusion: Dental treatment contributed to improvements regarding self-esteem and oral health self-perception in victims of sexual abuse. KeywordsSelf-reported oral health; Sexual abuse; Dental aesthetic; Adolescent; Child.
Highlights
Violence against children and adolescents is treated in several countries as a public health problem of high prevalence, which causes serious consequences to the psychological and social development of the victims and their families [1,2,3,4]
Considering that the teeth are important for psychological and social well-being [22], as well as the need for the disciplinary integration to improve the care for young victims of sexual abuse, this study aimed to evaluate the selfperception of oral health, as well as the influence of dental treatment on the improvement of the self-esteem of this population
The Research Ethics Committee of the Integrated Health Center Hospital Amaury de Medeiros of the University of Pernambuco approved this research (Approval number: 040/08). It was carried out a qualitative research based on a content analysis methodology with convenience sampling of six children and adolescents, 10 to 15 years-old, both genders, victims of sexual abuse, assisted in the Dom Hélder Câmara Center (CENDHEC), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Summary
Violence against children and adolescents is treated in several countries as a public health problem of high prevalence, which causes serious consequences to the psychological and social development of the victims and their families [1,2,3,4]. The World Health Organization [6] defined violence as “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation”. It can be classified into different types: physical abuse, psychological abuse, neglect or abandon and sexual abuse [7,8]. Any form of abuse in childhood or adolescence is understood as an act practiced contrary to the will of the victim, capable of causing physical, psychological or sexual harm and is carried out, in most situations, by persons directly related to the victims [9,10]
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