Knowledge Attitude Perception about Forensic Criminology amongst Dentist: A Web based Survey

Abstract

Aim: To analyse and assess the knowledge and perception about forensic criminology amongst dentists.

Introduction: Forensic criminology is the study of crime and criminals and the legal proceedings pertaining to it. It is the role of a forensic criminologist to understand the process of crime. Dentists on the other hand are the ones who come across victims of abuse and torture frequently. The abuse could be as subtle as child or elder neglect and could be profound as child abuse, domestic abuse, elder abuse or sexual abuse. The signs of abuse and torture are mostly reflected in the head and neck area. A dentist is endowed with the knowledge of medical and legal capabilities so as to report a case of crime. In order to do so, a practising dentist must learn the signs of abuse and few laws that protect the victims from abuse or any sort of crime. The role of a dentist is not just to protect the victims, but also to provide the details of criminals or the detainee to the police.

Materials and Methods: A set of 18 questions were formulated and circulated via Email and WhatsApp. The results procured were tabulated using microsoft excel and statistical analysis was made using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: A total of 152 responses were received. 17.1% of the dentists perceived that forensic odontologists are the ones who can identify in a better manner the victims of abuse and have the ability to report it. 19.1% were clueless about the role of a forensic odontologist in the field of forensic criminology. 48% of the respondents are aware that IPC section 354, 375 and 377 deals with child sexual abuse. 72% of the respondents were aware of all the signs and symptoms of a victim of child sexual abuse. Only 8.6% were aware that a person can report elder abuse in India according to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

Conclusion: As a practising dentist in India, it is imperative to be aware of forensic criminology in order to elevate one's knowledge and to partake in societal duties in an efficient manner.