OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the performance of professionals in the Emergency Units for the notification of cases of violence against children, considering sociodemographic characteristics, professional category and difficulties.
METHODS:
Cross-sectional study with a simple random sample (n=200), selected from the universe of professionals (n=523) of these Emergency Units in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, from a regional general hospital and six polyclinics. Bivariate analyses and measures of association were performed to determine statistical significance.
RESULTS:
Most professionals were female (82.5%), aged between 20 and 40 years old (75.5%), being nursing technicians (52.5%) and nurses (22.5%), 69.0% with a temporary employment contract. The notification was recorded by 69.5%, of them, and 60.0% asked for the opinion of another professional; 54.0% talked with the family and 42.9% reported to the Accident and Violence Surveillance System (VIVA). Statistical significance was observed in the nursing technicians category for the notification to sectors of reference, with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.28 - 2.09; and VIVA (95%CI 1.06 - 7.40). In the medical category, the significant result was not requesting the opinion of another professional (95%CI 1.02 - 3.51); not being afraid of judicial involvement (95%CI 1.19 - 4.06) and being trained in the violence matter (95%CI 1.21 - 5.00). The main difficulties cited were family omission (91.5%), fear of judicial involvement (63.5%) and lack of training (47.0%).
CONCLUSION:
Most cases of violence seen at the Emergency Units were notified, however, less than 50% of professionals did not notify VIVA, pointing the need for institutional investment in technical support and ongoing training. Actions addressed to notification strengthen institutions and make the sector responsible for victim care and protection.
Violence; Health systems; Emergencies; Mandatory reporting; Child; Adolescent