Why social Harms prevention programs fail?

Nader Mansourkiaee

One of the important components in the management and planning of prevention of social harms is to know the strategies for the effectiveness of the programs and especially to know the reasons for failure and to be aware of the limitations and challenges.

In other words, if we consider that the activities that take place in the field of preventing social harms and risky behaviors may not be successful and in other words fail, what is the reason for this lack of success and failure? The answer to this question can be helpful in designing appropriate models of social damage management and designing effective programs in this field.

In this note, an attempt has been made to explain some of the reasons using the standards that are recommended for social harm prevention programs.

** Lack of attention to evidence: One of the most important reasons for the failure of social harm prevention programs is that they are not based on valid evidence. Evidence means that the program is designed and implemented based on the following components. Be based on valid studies. Based on the previous evidence of the effectiveness of that program. It should be based on the opinion of field evidence. If the preventive program is not based on evidence, then it may be designed and implemented based on individual arguments of conventional administrative methods, the previous implementation of the program, and such reasons, and it will continue, and the result will not be clear. Was.

** Low coverage rate: One of the most important components in defining social harms is the frequency of outbreaks and epidemics of a desired social phenomenon. Therefore, the degree of prevalence of that phenomenon is so high that to control and reduce it, we must design and implement programs with equal power in terms of population coverage.

The result is that all the programs running in the country should be able to have an acceptable coverage rate in order to reduce and control the epidemic of a social phenomenon if our scattered programs cover only a small part of the population and this population is under If the coverage of the programs overlap with each other, then the coverage rate of the programs will be so low that it will not be able to have an effect by removing the overlapping population of the programs.

** Failure to evaluate programs: social damage prevention programs must be continuously studied in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. This study should measure several components. Are the program framework and its tools sufficiently validated? Is the method of implementing the program valid and effective? Has the program been able to achieve its desired goals? Has the program been able to make the desired changes? Is the program satisfactory to the audience?

**Ignoring or not paying attention to causal and structural models: one of the important features of structural models and causal models is that they help us introduce the weight and coefficient of importance and influence as well as the predictive weight of the variables.

As we know, social phenomena have a multivariate causal cognitive structure, and the use of such models allows us to design and implement social damage prevention programs based on the priority of protective factors and risk factors.

** Instability of programs: In the issue of social damage prevention, we are facing a complex issue called creating desirable behavioral changes, which includes a set of awareness, knowledge, skills, attitudes, styles and behaviors. For this purpose and to be effective, it is necessary for the programs to be continuous so that they can continuously monitor the changes and take the necessary measures.

** Failure to pay attention to underlying factors (failure to strengthen protective factors and reduce risk factors)

We should note that only education and awareness about social harms and risky behaviors are not enough because they are only one of the factors that protect people. Pay attention to other protective factors such as family, environment, mental health, social ties, lifestyle and other similar variables. Also, it is not enough to focus and emphasize on strengthening the protective factors. It is necessary to pay attention to the reduction of risk factors. For example, if we teach teenagers about high-risk behaviors, but their living environment is dangerous, although we raise their awareness and this can cause them to take care of themselves, but other variables are constant, which means that the risk remains in place.

** Failure to pay attention to interventions: Another important point is case interventions. Programs for the prevention of social harms and risky behaviors should not only be general, but should also pay special attention to case requirements. This emphasis includes paying attention to the specific requirements of different regions of the country or a city, as well as paying attention to the special requirements of individuals. For example, it may be necessary for a specific region to focus only on a specific example of social damage and risky behaviors. and implement a specific and appropriate intervention program, or we may use a specific supportive intervention, such as education, counseling, treatment, and assistance, for the person or persons who may be at risk of social harm and risky behavior, for whom It has more priority and can help him more.

** Programs are not growth-oriented: programs for the prevention of social harm, especially in the age group of children and adolescents, in order to be effective, it is better to be designed according to the characteristics of physical, mental and social development of people and at each stage of the person's age development. He taught him how to take care of his skills. For example, self-awareness training is more appropriate in the elementary school. In the same way, emotion control training in secondary school can be effective.

The growth oriented approach a It is one of the common approaches in the field of preventing social harm and risky behaviors.

** Programs are not based on the participation of stakeholders: One of the most important approaches accepted in programs for the prevention of social harms and high-risk behaviors is the participation of stakeholders. As planners in designing their programs in the field of preventing social harms and risky behaviors try to focus one of the important aspects and components of their programs on "seeking support", so that stakeholders such as educational, medical, social, Law enforcement, judicial as well as non-governmental organizations, charity groups, local associations should participate in programs from the design stage to implementation. This support will increase the effectiveness of the program both in the design phase and in the implementation phase.

** Programs are not based on the social care system: social harm prevention programs are better to take place in the form of a "social care system". This means that all stages of preventive interventions from screening to education, counseling, treatment, assistance, as well as reduction of risk factors should be carried out in a regular, interconnected and intelligent cycle, which includes the set of these stages and services of the "social care system". will be