Identifi cação e notifi cação dos maus-tratos infantis no setor educacional

Abstract

This study sought to identify: (a) what educational professionals think about reporting child maltreatment; (b) how they deal with cases; and (c) their reasons for not reporting. The participants included 22 principals/coordinators and 139 teachers in public schools in two towns in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A questionnaire was applied to identify socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge on the subject, and an open question addressed the act of reporting. The quantitative and interpretative analysis of data indicates that most teachers had had contact with suspected cases of abuse and reported such cases to the school administration. The school administration, however, often decided not to report cases but tried to resolve the situation by talking and/or referring those involved to treatment. The main reasons for not reporting cases included fear and lack of trust in the child protection system. As a consequence, these professionals are not playing their due role in the child protection system.