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Toward a clarification of primary prevention

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Abstract

The ambiguity of the concept of primary prevention and a vague fear that primary prevention may violate civil liberties are two of the important barriers blocking the implementation of primary prevention. Progress toward overcoming these barriers may be possible by distinguishing between the different but overlapping meanings of primary prevention. In this paper four models of primary prevention are proposed to aid definitional accuracy and to help identify and avoid those types of preventive interventions which threaten civil liberties.

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DeWild, D.W. Toward a clarification of primary prevention. Community Ment Health J 16, 306–316 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00821562

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