Submission ID 118535
| Issue/Objective | Domestic Violence (DV) was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global health concern. The face is the commonest site of assault - 38.7% of the injuries are related to the head and neck region. Dentists have a unique position in assessing, reporting, and referring the victims of DV to the right authorities. The study aimed to explore the dental healthcare system's readiness in identifying, reporting, and referring patients of domestic violence coming to the healthcare settings. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A qualitative exploratory study with purposive sampling was conducted in a public and private dental institution and the key stakeholders' official premises. In-depth interviews were conducted with the dentists in the public and private dental institutions, and Key Informant Interviews were conducted with law enforcement personnel, policymakers, educationists, and regulatory authorities. Data was collected from August to September 2022 and analysed manually using thematic analysis and a deductive approach. |
| Results | Despite the existence of law and agencies present to cater DV in Pakistan, the findings of the study depicted the gaps in reporting and referral mechanisms, insufficient knowledge of dentists for helping DV patients, missing coordination between health, education and law-enforcement departments and agencies and overall lack of education and awareness around this taboo topic. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | DV is a significant and grossly prevalent issue in our society, which needs recognition, action and awareness. Our system lacks the ability to deal with and assist the patients of DV coming to the healthcare settings, and lacks knowledge on how to timely and properly deal with the intricacies of this matter. Dental healthcare system needs collaboration, support and integrated working to be able to help potential DV victims coming to seek treatment. It is also equally significant for the authorities to disseminate laws and guidelines rightfully and responsibly against DV and make it accessible to everyone in our society. Furthermore, inter-departmental coordination is important to facilitate reporting and referral mechanisms for all DV victims. Systems should be made easy, concrete and reliable and only by achieving a united goal, dexterity and multi-sectoral approach, can readiness be accomplished and DV managed in our society. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Maria Ather Aga Khan University Rozina Karmaliani Aga Khan University |
