Preventing child abuse and neglect in Saudi Arabia: are we ready?
Maha Almuneef1, Majid Al-Eissa
1National Family Safety Program, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. mahamuneef@gmail.com
Insights
Child abuse and neglect (CAN) recognition is growing in Saudi Arabia, but prevention programs are still developing. This paper reviews progress and outlines steps for implementing evidence-based CAN prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Child Welfare
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Child abuse and neglect (CAN) has been recognized by medical professionals for two decades.
- Child protection services and maltreatment prevention programs are nascent in Saudi Arabia.
Observation:
- Saudi Arabia is making progress in recognizing and implementing child protection services.
- CAN prevention is a global healthcare priority, emphasizing evidence-based interventions.
Findings:
- The paper reviews Saudi Arabia's progress in child protection services.
- It identifies essential steps for establishing child maltreatment prevention programs.
- The study assesses the readiness and challenges for implementing evidence-based CAN prevention in Saudi Arabia.
Implications:
- This research highlights the need for structured approaches to CAN prevention in Saudi Arabia.
- It provides a roadmap for developing and implementing effective, evidence-based interventions.
- The findings are crucial for policymakers and healthcare professionals dedicated to child welfare.
Abstract:
Although child abuse and neglect (CAN) have been recognized by medical professionals for the last 20 years, child protection services and child maltreatment prevention programs are still emerging in Saudi Arabia. This paper will review the progress made in the country in terms of recognition and implementation of child protection services. Furthermore, it will draw attention to the essential steps required to start child maltreatment prevention programs, as CAN prevention is currently viewed as a global healthcare priority with an emphasis on evidence-based interventions. In addition, this paper will assess Saudi Arabia's readiness to prevent CAN and the challenges that will be faced by the professionals in implementing evidence-based CAN prevention programs.
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