Challenges and facilitators of public engagement with water, sanitation, hygiene and other environmental health issues in Ghana and Uganda: perspectives of scientists, journalists and the public

Bernard Appiah,Edgar M Mulogo,Andrew Christopher Wesuta,Samuel Nii Odai,George Appiah,David A Anum,Kofi Akodwaa-Boadi,Ochieng’ Ogodo,Esther Nakkazi,Anubhuti Poudyal

doi:10.2166/washdev.2019.019

Abstract

AbstractDespite many water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and other environmental health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about interactions involving scientists, journalists and the public to aid public understanding of the relationship between WASH and health. Using purposive sampling, we conducted key informant interviews and focus group discussions with scientists, journalists and members of the public in Ghana and Uganda to identify issues associated with the promotion of public engagement with WASH and other environmental health issues. An inductive thematic analysis was used to explore the evidence, challenges and opportunities of public engagement. The effectiveness of public engagement was constrained by poor interactions between scientists and journalists and limited understanding among the public on WASH and other environmental health issues. Challenges identified included inadequate scientists–journalists collaborations, scientists' lack of time, pressure from media organizations and concerns about journalists' inadequate capacity to communicate environmental issues due to lack of training. Possible solutions included increased interactions, science communication training and using public information officers as knowledge brokers between scientists and journalists to boost public engagement with WASH and other environmental health issues. Our study contributes to the literature on the need to actively engage the public with WASH and other environmental health concerns.

Highlights

Environmental health issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) confront sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in avoidable diseases on the continent (World Health Organization )
The journalists had a special interest in reporting on WASH and other environmental health issues, and the members of the public had a particular interest in addressing WASH and environmental issues, including one in Ghana who worked for a waste disposal company and another in Uganda who worked for a water and sewerage company
Themes that resulted from the interviews and the focus group discussions (FGDs) were about (a) current nature of public engagement, (b) challenges of public engagement and (c) facilitators of public engagement

Summary

Introduction

Environmental health issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) confront sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in avoidable diseases on the continent (World Health Organization ). Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the developing regions that missed the water and sanitation targets proposed in the Millennium Development Goal (World Health Organization ). Greater efforts are needed to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of increasing access to improved water sources for all by 2030 (Cornish ). Such efforts require a multidisciplinary approach (Cornish ), including the active involvement of scientists, science journalists, policymakers and members of the public. Interactions between scientists and others, such as science journalists, policymakers and members of the public, are important for at least three reasons. Scientists’ interactions with the public in forms such as media interviews and face-to-face meetings including scientific café could help bridge this gap (Matheson ). While it is the responsibility of journalists to translate scientific terms to the public, scientists should be able to communicate directly with the public (Brownell Price & Steinman )

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Conclusion