NCJ Number
246799
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2014 Pages: 527-532
Date Published
March 2014
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the readiness of Saudi Arabia to implement a large-scale, evidence-based child maltreatment prevention (CMP) program.
Abstract
The study concluded that Saudi Arabia has a "moderate" level of readiness for implementing large-scale, evidence-based CMP programs. Several aspects of the proposed program should be strengthened prior to and throughout the implementation of such prevention programs. Knowledge of CMP, data collection, and political will are the strengths of the country, and these factors were given high scores by both the key informants and the experts. Attitude toward CM, institutional links and collaboration, and human and material resources apparently need further improvement before launching a large-scale, evidence-based CMP in Saudi Arabia. Material, human, and technical resources received the lowest scores from both the key informants and the experts. This finding is not surprising, since CM has only recently been recognized as a problem in the country. Efforts to build human capacity must be intensified in the 13 Provinces of the country, and the use of evidence-based training of leadership personnel is essential. In addition, far-reaching and evidence-based public awareness campaigns should be implemented in all Provinces, so as to reach a wide range of people. This report recommends starting a small-scale CMP program at a community level, which could provide lessons for the development of large-scale, evidence-based programs throughout the country. 2 boxes, 1 table, 2 figure, and 20 references