Abstract
Fishermen in low resource settings have limited access to health services and may have a range of health literacy-related difficulties that may lead to poor health outcomes. To provide solutions and interventions based on their needs, co-design is considered best practice in such settings. This study aimed to implement a co-design process as a step towards developing health literacy interventions to improve health and equity in the Borollos Lake region of northern Egypt, a low resource setting with a high prevalence of chronic diseases. This study was guided by the Ophelia (Optimising Health Literacy and Access) process, a widely used and flexible co-design process that seeks to create local and fit-for-purpose health literacy solutions through genuine engagement and participation of community members and relevant stakeholders. Following a health literacy survey using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), cluster analysis was conducted to identify the diverse health literacy profiles among the fishing communities. Seven health literacy profiles were identified. Vignettes, representing these profiles, were presented and discussed in ideas generation/co-design workshops with fishermen and health workers to develop intervention ideas. Seventeen fishermen, 22 wives of fishermen, and 20 nurses participated in four workshops. Fifteen key strategies across five themes, including ‘Enhancing education among fishing communities’, ‘Provide good quality health services’, ‘Financial support for health’, ‘Social support for health’, and ‘Promote better health-related quality of life among fishermen’, were generated. The ideas did not only target the individuals but also required actions from the government, non-government organizations, and fishermen syndicates. By harnessing local wisdom, the Ophelia process has created meaningful engagement with the local communities, leading to a wide range of practical and feasible solutions that match the special needs and environment of a low resource setting.
Highlights
This study was set in the remote Borollos Lake region in Kafr El Shiekh, Egypt and the methods were guided by the Ophelia process
Seven clusters were identified with different health literacy profiles
This study found that people could have diverse health literacy needs and a one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate to address these needs
Summary
Smoking and poor diet are among the common behaviour health risks in fishermen [3,4]. The Borollos Lake in northern Egypt, located in Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate east of Rosetta, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, has many islands separated by great distances inhabited by fishermen communities. These communities are typically poor, with low education (including high rates of illiteracy), and have limited access to health services because of the remote location.
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