Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Gonçalves Chaves, 457, Centro, 96015-560, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. marinasazevedo@hotmail.com.
PURPOSE: This study's aim was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated factors of maltreated children and adolescents.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of individuals between 8 and 17 years of age who were victims of maltreatment. The KIDSCREEN-52 was used to measure their HRQoL. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected, as well as information about the type of abuse, type of perpetrator, and psychological support adherence. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the scores of the KIDSCREEN-52 by the independent variables.
RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen victims answered the questionnaire. Girls and adolescents had a lower overall HRQoL score (p < 0.05). Children who suffered from sexual abuse had a lowest score on the moods and emotions dimension than children who suffered from physical abuse (p < 0.05). There was a lowest score on the autonomy dimension among the children who suffered maltreatment by an extrafamilial perpetrator than those who were victimized by an intrafamilial perpetrator (p < 0.05). A lower score on the psychological well-being was observed among the children who adhered to the psychological support program provided by the service compared to those who terminated the service before completion (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents and girls were associated with lower HRQoL scores. There was no association between the overall HRQoL score and the characteristics of the maltreatment; however, the type of abuse and the victim's relationship with the perpetrator were only related to some dimensions. These findings may assist maltreatment care providers in planning strategies to reduce the consequences that violence may cause.