Community Engagement to enhance study participation by Higher Learning Institutions in Mbeya-Tanzania.

Abstract

Community and public engagement with science and research improves community awareness and understanding of value and methods of science. THRiVE encourages and supports its research fellows to engage the community as a pathway to maximizing the potential impact of their research. We undertook community engagement activities on Sexually Transmitted Infections(STIs) among young adults attending Higher Learning Institutions(HLIs) in Mbeya-Tanzania, as part of a Ph.D study. The Ph.D Fellow organised an interactive joint group discussion with the community of HLI representatives and Mbeya Regional Medical Officer(RMO) to nurture good working relationships, learn about the STI situation and prevention activities in the study area and inspire informed participation in the proposed research. The interactive discussions noted challenges in STI prevention including lack of parent and/or teacher-driven communication on STIs and sexual matters, and insufficient modalities for teaching adolescents on Sexual and Reproductive Health(SRH) beyond what they learn in Biology lessons. Additionally, an urgent need for a Training-of-Trainers refresher course for SRH curriculum teachers was identified. Participants proposed joint development of an informative adolescent-friendly SRH curriculum by the health and education sectors in Mbeya. Community engagement enabled the target audience to understand the importance of the project, as well as the researcher to obtain approvals and support for study implementation.