Barriers to implementing learning from child protection training in Saudi Arabia

The implementation of child protection training programmes can be influenced by a range of societal, policy, service and practice-related factors. The aim of this study was to establish the experiences of implementation barriers among 26 professionals from different disciplines in Saudi Arabia, 18 months after they had completed such training. The three identified themes related to customs and traditions; organizational, administrative and staff-related barriers; and challenges in contact with families. It is important that these inter-linked levels of barriers are tackled in co-ordination through policy, legislation, awareness campaigns and service development, and that they are anticipated holistically by educational programmes.