OBJECTIVE: To analyze training and knowledge of professionals in the Family Health Team on reporting the mistreatment of children and adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in three municipalities of Ceará State, Northeast Brazil, from January to April 2012. The research included 51 professionals: physicians (9), nurses (26), and dentists (16) who worked in the Family Health Strategy. A questionnaire was used for data collection, which received descriptive statistical analysis with the Pearson's chi-square test, being significant p≤0.05. RESULTS: There was a predominance of professionals who had not participated in violence against children and adolescents training (86.3%); who knew the Child and Adolescent Statute (90.2%), and how to notify mistreatment (62.7%). Most interviewees said that the health unit had the form (70.5%), and they knew where to refer victims to (82.3%). Most professionals did not have any contact with mistreatment situations (62.8%). Only 37.2% had already identified some case and, among them, 60.0% reported the occurrences. There was a significant association (p=0.035) between the act of notifying and the participation in a training on the subject. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the participants have difficulties in the reporting mistreatment of children and adolescents, and there are gaps in knowledge and weaknesses in training in this area.
child abuse; disease notification; violence; child; adolescent
