The impacts of tourism on shifting mountain climbing ritual tradition in geopark Rinjani, Indonesia

Surging amounts of waste are reported globally and especially in lower-income countries, with negative consequences for health and the environment. Increasing concern has been raised for the limited progress achieved in practice by diverse sets of policies and programmes. Waste management is a wicked problem characterized by multilayered interdependencies, complex social dynamics and webs of stakeholders. Interactions among these generate unpredictable outcomes that can be missed by decision makers through their understanding and framing of their context. This study therefore aimed at unlocking the intrigues behind unending waste management concerns that have continued to bedevil Mukuru slums despite the interventions in place and to develop sustainable mechanisms to address the challenges. The study was descriptive in nature and tried to understand determinants of waste management towards attaining a sustainable environmental conservation. The study targeted key informants drawn from the Nairobi county department of environment, water and sanitation, civil society groups, NEMA and local provincial administration and community members in Mukuru slum. Stratified sampling technique was used to select the sample population for the study. Since the study used primary data, a well set of questionnaire was used to collect the data from the respondents. The collected data was subjected to scrutiny through screening to ensure completeness and eliminate all the errors, before final analysis, aided by statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) software. Regression analysis was also performed to determine the relationship between the poverty, management capabilities, financial resources and regulatory policies on sustainable environmental conservation. Data presentation was achieved through tables, graphs and charts. Findings revealed that poverty level, financial resources, management capabilities, and regulatory policies have great influence on sustainable environmental conservation in Mukuru slums. Therefore, the study recommended for integrated waste management approach that is community centered to bring every community member on board and other key stakeholders. On financial resources, the study recommended for robust public-private sector partnership to build up financial capital necessary for management of waste menace and conserve the environment and allocation of more resources. There is a need for more trainings, and awareness creation and formulation of elaborate policies to create autonomy for NEMA to enable the organization implement and enforce its regulations effectively. The study outlined that further studies can be done on the impact of socio-demographic factors, household perceptions and attitudes on waste management and socio-economic factors on sustainable environmental conservation.

Dewey, Implementation, and Creating a Democratic Civic University

This paper was an attempt to reveal the less known roles of socio-economic incentives towards influencing environmental conservation of rehabilitated rural areas of Kondoa. The cross-sectional research design was employed. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 30 respondents from each of the four study villages and make a total of 120 respondent households. The study was conducted in Mafai, Ntomoko, Kalamba- Juu and Kalamba-Chini villages. Data were collected using pre-tested and pilot-tested questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews. Ms-Excel and SPSS 20.0 computer software were used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics were employed to reveal various parameters in the study. Binary logistic regression analysis was further employed to reveal statistically significant socio-economic incentives towards sustainable environmental conservation in KRA. The study findings revealed the available five socio-economic incentives namely tree seedlings, fertilizer, improved seeds, beekeeping inputs and education programs. The binary logistic regression analysis further revealed tree seedlings (P<0.01), and education programs (P<0.05) as statistically significant socio-economic incentives in influencing the awareness of environmental conservation in KRA. The study findings further revealed roles of socioeconomic incentives in influencing the awareness of environmental conservation such as afforestation, reduce drought, supportive source of energy, improve yield, increase income, improve food security, control human activities and increase awareness on sustainable environmental conservation in KRA. The study concludes that socioeconomic incentives can significantly contribute to the restoration of forest loss and fragmentation hence leading to sustainable conservation of the biodiversity. The study recommends for the conservationists, environmentalists and policy makers to make use of the available five socio-economic incentives namely tree seedlings, fertilizer, improved seeds, beekeeping inputs and education programs in the course of implementing effective environmental conservation measures. However the study sought a high need of highly integrating tree seedlings and education programs in all sustainably practiced environmental conservation initiatives.

BackgroundTo determine the efficacy of a new typhoid conjugate vaccine in an endemic setting in sub-Saharan Africa, the Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium is conducting a phase-3 randomized controlled trial in Blantyre, Malawi. This article describes community and stakeholder engagement activities before and during the trial, challenges, and lessons learned.MethodsIn October 2017, Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW) organized a wide range of community engagement activities, including meetings with Ministry of Health and Education officials at the district and facility level, local community leadership, and parent teacher association groups. We engaged media outlets to include local and international television, radio, and print media. Community members were informed directly through a study jingle played via loudspeaker from a van and by community-based activities.To review engagement activity effectiveness: The MLW team met to discuss progress and challenges; and a focus group discussion (FGD), consisting of trial staff, sought feedback from the community on each engagement modality.ResultsThe school-based vaccine campaign increased community participation exceeding recruitment targets to date (on average, >200 children/day).ConclusionsThe FGD concluded that the van and local activities improved awareness and turnout for the trial, but prior engagement with local government and community leadership is an essential mechanism to provide details of the study, answer questions, communicate the value of the study, and address safety concerns. Effective community engagement is essential in a large intervention trial. Multiple channels of communication are required to reach the community and deliver information needed for participation and provide opportunity for dialogue with the trial team.

This study analyzes Gurindam 12 as an ecospiritual manifesto that connects moral, ethical, and spiritual values in classical Malay literature with environmental conservation practices in the Riau Islands. The research approach used was qualitative-descriptive-analytical, with primary data obtained through semi-structured interviews with cultural figures, community leaders, and local communities, as well as participatory observation. Secondary data include the text of Gurindam 12 and the scientific literature on ecospirituality, ecotheology, and local wisdom. The results of the study show that Gurindam 12 contains ecospiritual values that can be a guideline for sustainable living and harmonious interaction with nature. Malay cultural practices, including traditional rituals and resource management, are a form of internalization of these values. This research emphasizes the potential for integrating local literary and cultural policies into environmental and educational policies to increase people's ecological awareness. The research findings contribute to the development of culturally relevant and widely applicable culture-based environmental maintenance models.

Sustainable conservation of any ecosystem needs a balance between resource utilization and management. The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) of East Africa which covers a large area more particularly in Tanzania needs such kind of balance for its sustainability. With potential biophysical resources such as fluvial, vertisols and xerosols soils with the annual rainfall exceeds 1200 mm per year, may attracts more degradation than conservation. This review aims to assess the influence of agroforestry and related farming systems in the intensification of sustainable conservation in the area. Thereby, we reviewed 39 peer reviewed publications from the data base and some secondary data to attain the goal. It is discernible that agroforestry has increased crop yields for over 50% in the area. However, the ongoing degradation threatens the sustainability of the EAM. Forest degradation will offset over 100 million tons of carbon that is stored in the EAM. Besides, environmental degradation will significantly affect the water sources that feed over 3.5 million people in the downstream. Then, the supply of water for Hydro-Electric Power, environmental requirements and agricultural activities in the downstream will be adequate affected. To curb the authentic and potential degradation, the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Funds (EAMCEF) is operational in the area. Norway is among the great funders of EAMCEF. Therefore, for the robustness of sustainable conservation in EAM, a collective effort from various stakeholders especially donors are needed.

The research question was what studies are available that have assessed community engagement in the health services research on soil-transmitted helminths? We aimed to synthesise evidence on how communities were engaged in health services research on soil-transmitted helminths in low-and-middle-income countries of the Asia-Pacific Region. We focused on this region because soil-transmitted helminths are endemic, and their burden is significant in this region. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Relevant studies were searched in health-related databases including PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar. We selected studies based on the selection criteria set for this review. We collected textual information about the type of health services research, the degree of community engagement, the research phases involved, and the barriers/enablers affecting community engagement in research since they are pertinent to our review question and objective. Ten studies from seven countries in the Asia Pacific region were identified for this review. Albeit with variation in the extent of their involvement, various forms of communities/groups within communities were included such as Aboriginal communities, local communities, school children and their parents, school teachers and headmasters of schools, heads of villages, religious leaders, and so on. Overall, community engagement in health services research focused on of soil-transmitted helminths was limited. Six studies (60%) had collaboration at 'developing methodology', mainly through an explanation of the objectives of the study or study process to be conducted. Seven studies (70%) revealed community participation in soil-transmitted helminths at the "data collection" stage. Only one study (10%) documented that a community leader was involved as a co-author, reflecting an involvement in 'report writing' and further 'dissemination'. Findings suggest that there were various forms of community engagement in various aspects of the health services research context. Overall, there was moderate level of participation, but there was insufficient information on the partnership between various stakeholders, which prevented in-depth analysis of the engagement. Future health services research on soil-transmitted helminth interventions needs to be carefully planned, well designed, grounded in principles of community engagement, and designed methodologically to allow in-depth participation by communities in all stages of the research.

The research question was what studies are available that have assessed community engagement in the health services research on soil-transmitted helminths? We aimed to synthesise evidence on how communities were engaged in health services research on soil-transmitted helminths in low-and-middle-income countries of the Asia-Pacific Region. We focused on this region because soil-transmitted helminths are endemic, and their burden is significant in this region. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Relevant studies were searched in health-related databases including PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar. We selected studies based on the selection criteria set for this review. We collected textual information about the type of health services research, the degree of community engagement, the research phases involved, and the barriers/enablers affecting community engagement in research since they are pertinent to our review question and objective. Ten studies from seven countries in the Asia Pacific region were identified for this review. Albeit with variation in the extent of their involvement, various forms of communities/groups within communities were included such as Aboriginal communities, local communities, school children and their parents, school teachers and headmasters of schools, heads of villages, religious leaders, and so on. Overall, community engagement in health services research focused on of soil-transmitted helminths was limited. Six studies (60%) had collaboration at ‘developing methodology’, mainly through an explanation of the objectives of the study or study process to be conducted. Seven studies (70%) revealed community participation in soil-transmitted helminths at the “data collection” stage. Only one study (10%) documented that a community leader was involved as a co-author, reflecting an involvement in ‘report writing’ and further ‘dissemination’. Findings suggest that there were various forms of community engagement in various aspects of the health services research context. Overall, there was moderate level of participation, but there was insufficient information on the partnership between various stakeholders, which prevented in-depth analysis of the engagement. Future health services research on soil-transmitted helminth interventions needs to be carefully planned, well designed, grounded in principles of community engagement, and designed methodologically to allow in-depth participation by communities in all stages of the research.

This study assessed the effectiveness of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) operational initiatives in Negros Occidental, with a focus on fostering trust, promoting collaboration with local communities, and improving public safety. Employing a descriptive-correlational research design, data were gathered from 262 respondents representing local government units (LGUs), police workforce, and community leaders in Bacolod City, Silay City, and Bago City. The study measured perceptions of key CSOP initiatives—including town hall meetings, patrol frequency, police responsiveness, and community engagement—and evaluated their impact on public trust and confidence in the police from 2020 to 2023. Results indicated that while CSOP initiatives were generally perceived as effective, patrol frequency received average ratings, highlighting the need for enhanced police visibility. Trust and confidence in the PNP were moderate overall, with police fairness rated highly but police effectiveness perceived as average. Statistical analyses revealed that perceptions of effectiveness significantly varied by age and designation but not by sex, civil status, or location. The effectiveness of CSOP initiatives was found to be a significant predictor of public trust and confidence in the police force. The findings underscore the importance of tailored strategies to increase patrol visibility, strengthen community engagement, and address demographic factors influencing perceptions. This research provides actionable recommendations for refining CSOP implementation and developing targeted programs to enhance peace, safety, and collaborative governance at the barangay level in Negros Occidental.

OP 34: Diseases and Interventions 2, B304 (FCSH), September 5, 2025, 10:15 - 11:15AimsPandemic plans often stress the important role of community or faith leaders, other helpers, and community-based organizations (CBOs) in supporting communication efforts during a crisis. However, there is limited evidence regarding the level of trust, interaction and influence these individuals or groups have in supporting communication efforts with ethnic minority communities during a health crisis in a high-income setting. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap focused on ethnic minority communities in Australia.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was undertaken with ethnic minority community members who self-identified as belonging to one or more of six selected language/cultural groups. It drew on various validated tools and included closed and open questions. Cross tabulations were employed to explore the relationship between participant factors and levels of trust in community organzations and community leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsFive hundred and ninety responses were included in the study. Trust in the actors or organizations providing information about COVID-19 varied across community groups. Overall, participants in every group except Pasifika participants reported increased trust toward CBOs and community leaders during the pandemic. Results suggest that moderate to very high trust in CBOs is more likely evident in those who reported a higher frequency of engagement with the organizations before the emergency event. Similarly, moderate to very high trust in community leaders is more evident in those who had an increased frequency of interaction with community leaders, who were more likely to ask for help, and who had higher satisfaction with community leaders’ communication during the pandemic.ConclusionsWe must avoid making assumptions about the reach of CBOs and community leaders/helpers into some communities or that they will have the same level of influence across all ethnic minority groups. Governments must consider the diversity between and within different ethnic minority communities.

Wahlbeck's paper 1 provides a succinct and accurate overview of the public health approach to global mental health. Conceptually, public health incorporates not just evidence-based interventions from high-income countries, but also significant emphases on positive behavioral health, prevention, recovery, and social, cultural and environmental factors. Expanding global mental health to include positive behavioral health – and therefore all people – offers the advantage of attention to developmental needs, resilience, prevention, and recovery 2. The behavioral health field has ignored these issues and the related empirical research findings for too long. Relatedly, shifting from “mental health” to “behavioral health” could underscore the broad focus on healthy behaviors rather than a narrower focus on mental illness. As one ramification, mainstreaming behavioral health to the entire population may reduce stigma for those who experience the most severe disabilities. The practical implementations of the Movement for Global Mental Health have been criticized extensively 3. Despite its holistic and laudable rhetoric, implementation attempts have largely involved an expansion of Western evidence-based biomedical or psychological interventions delivered via lay health workers and have not been sensitive to cultures and communities. Local communities often object to the imposition of Western models of individual mental illness when the problems are widespread, the culture is not so individualistic, and behaviors are obviously related to war, poverty, gender discrimination, lack of opportunity, and so on. The failure to engage communities and understand cultural values and norms has sometimes worsened rather than relieved widespread community distress 4. The use of lay health workers helps to expand services and engender trust 5, but these workers typically make diagnoses and dispense medications or psychological therapies following a Western medical model. How could community engagement efforts align more closely with local culture? One basic strategy could be to start with local people on the ground. “Top-down” solutions (i.e., those developed by government experts) that are imposed on communities are often bureaucratic, reductionistic, overly prescriptive, and insensitive to local culture and context. The expensive and inefficient Veterans Administration Healthcare system in the U.S. is often cited as an example of the failure of top-down systems 6. By contrast, “ground-up” approaches (i.e., those developed by local stakeholders and communities) may better serve the goals of public mental health by valorizing local knowledge, competence, and resources. People on the ground – those experiencing behavioral health problems, their families, and their communities, aligned with local leaders, professionals, healers, and health workers – may in fact be in a better position to recognize local needs and resources, to understand local culture, to select and adapt appropriate evidence-based practices, and to innovate solutions. Local culture, however, may sometimes perpetuate stigma and even violations of human rights – hence the need for collaborations with professionals via mutual learning. Learning communities (multi-disciplinary groups focused on a specific health issue) have successfully combined local stakeholders with outside experts to discuss, select, and evaluate potential solutions 7. Community engagement could be enhanced on a global basis via several strategies. First, governments should give priority and funding to ground-up approaches. Community engagement in health care has a long and rich tradition, including principles and strategies for identifying and solving problems 8. Local community activation has in fact often produced positive changes and sometimes led to national and international health reforms: witness the women's health movement in the 1960s and the AIDS movement in the 1990s in the U.S.. Second, the field should recognize that people with behavioral health syndromes generally have goals that differ from those of professionals 9. Rather than more and more medications to reduce symptoms, people generally want support in finding meaningful functional roles. If local people (rather than industry, government, and the medical profession) were to choose services and goals, behavioral health would shift dramatically. For example, women who are oppressed and abused would be likely to emphasize education, advocacy, legal action, employment, and financial independence rather than poly-pharmacy. Third, healthcare systems should encourage people to develop natural resources, e.g., clubs, peer-support groups, spirituality, yoga, and other mindfulness-based therapies 10. These interventions, delivered by lay community members, are widely available in culturally specific forms and languages and can enhance prevention, resilience, treatment, and recovery. Government should encourage and strengthen these natural supports in local communities before assuming that more hospitals, professionals, and medications are the answer. Fourth, lay health care workers should be given the opportunity to collaborate with the people in their communities in selecting the medical and psychosocial interventions that they want and obtaining the training that they need to be effective 11. Likewise, they should be given the choice to veto or adapt interventions that are perceived as harmful or culturally insensitive. Such an approach may require extensive discussions within communities and suspension of Western hegemonic beliefs about the immutability of science-based interventions. Fifth, behavioral health technologies should be used to enhance all of these efforts in ways that maximize choice and cultural tailoring. A wide variety of web-based and mobile health applications are demonstrating effectiveness for prevention, empowerment, resilience, treatment, and maintenance 12. Low-income and middle-income countries are rapidly developing the connectivity that could facilitate widespread distribution, perhaps through lay health workers. Expanding and using these resources could helpfully overcome what is often perceived as the lack of a professional workforce while simultaneously empowering local communities. Global attention to positive behavioral health for all people is essential. We would not gainsay efforts to increase access to evidence-based interventions, but current efforts should include a meaningful understanding and respect for local cultures, communities, and resources.

Introduction A significant part of social work field education, particularly service learning provides a powerful yet underutilised opportunity to advance both community engagement and social justice, which is the ethical imperative of the social work profession. The program developed by the Department of Social work at Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya Women‟s University, entails engaging the local community, with the intention of understanding community needs and mobilising and empowering local villagers to address issues of concern. In doing so, the rich space of the village community is transformed into an active teaching and learning space for students. The current study was undertaken at the Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya (Women‟s University), as it sought to understand how academics and students within the Department of Social Work conceptualise community engagement and what values and principles are used to guide the engagement process with the surrounding local village community. It further explored how community based learning is enhanced through the immersion of students within the village milieu. Purpose of the study The purpose of this study was to explore how community engagement is operationalised at the Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya (Women‟s University). It sought to understand more deeply the values and principles that guided community engagement in a rural context in India. The study also investigated the processes that underpin community engagement within a rural context as well as the benefits that this engagement had for students, academics, and the community. Methodology This study is based on a qualitative research approach as it sought to extract rich information pertaining to the engagement process and experience. There were two samples in this study, one included social work academics, and the other, students from the Department of Social Work. Two data collection techniques were used viz. semi structured interviews and focus group discussions. Data was collected till saturation. In total, 6 academics and 11 students involved in community engagement were interviewed. In addition a focus group discussion was held with academics and students separately. All data collection occurred at the university site. The process of data analysis was guided by the steps of thematic analysis. This enabled the search through the transcripts to be reduced to patterns and similar themes. Words and phrases were generated to represent these themes and sub- themes. The themes served to illustrate the essence of students and academic responses. Findings The broad themes that emerged from the analysis included viz. conceptual issues, student values, principles, processes underpinning engagement with rural communities, social justice action, and learning from the community and transcending challenges. The study found that a diverse range of values and principles were used to guide engagement with the local community. Some of the critical values and principles that emerged from the study were that of respect for diversity, non-discrimination, demonstration of humility and empathy, self- determination, social justice, and effective communication. Moreover, the community engagement process was found to be characterised by being socially responsible, rapport building, continuous interaction with the community and the interconnectedness of teaching, research, and engagement. In addition, the findings reflected that due to exposure, diverse cultural groups, students, and academics learnt valuable lessons from the community, such as unity with the community. This learning was linked to positive behaviour that promotes social tolerance, personal and interpersonal development, and openness to diversity. The findings also reflected that engagement is a core pillar along with teaching and research within the Department of Social Work. Effective teaching and extensive learning is asserted by active learning. This is reflected in the current study which demanded that students not merely acquire effective cognitive skills and logical skills, but also personal and interpersonal skills. Furthermore, the placement of students in the villages was important as it promoted the development of genuine community-university partnerships and created awareness of the importance of such collaboration. Conclusion The field education component easily transforms itself into service learning within the context of the Department of Social Work, at Bhagat Singh Phool Women‟s University. The study highlighted critical issues around the conceptualisation of community engagement, its processes, and the social justice imperative as part of community engagement. It captures the salience and benefits of community engagement in social work, where the beginnings of community engagement are being stirred. This is crucial given the lack of empirical attention that documents its value in India. More importantly, it highlights how service learning can be harnessed as a pedagogical approach, as students were able to develop intercultural skills, negotiate difficult conversations in the face of cultural dynamics, understand and practice democratic principles, as well as fulfill the social justice mandate of the profession.

Collaboration between local health authorities and community actors is widely recognised as central to effective emergency preparedness and response, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where health systems face persistent resource and governance constraints. However, empirical evidence on how such collaboration is conceptualised, operationalised, and evaluated remains fragmented. This scoping review mapped and synthesised available evidence on collaboration between local health authorities and community leaders (including community-facing actors) during health emergencies, using the COVID-19 pandemic as an illustrative context to inform further research. A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2020 and October 2025. Eligible studies were primary empirical research conducted in LMICs that examined collaboration between local health authorities and community-facing actors involved in emergency responses. Data were extracted using a structured charting tool and synthesised using descriptive and narrative approaches. Three qualitative studies from Bangladesh and the Philippines met the inclusion criteria. Collaboration involved partnerships between local health authorities and non-governmental organisations, universities, and community-based actors, often formalised through coordination mechanisms. Reported strategies included joint planning, co-implementation of services, resource and workforce sharing, capacity building, and community outreach. These approaches were associated with enhanced surge capacity, continuity of essential services, strengthened system resilience, and improved access and community engagement. However, community leadership roles were rarely explicitly defined, with leadership functions often embedded within community-facing or intermediary actors. The evidence base on collaboration during health emergencies in LMICs remains limited and conceptually underdeveloped. Available studies suggest that collaboration between local health authorities and community-facing actors may support coordinated and resilient responses. However, important gaps persist in how community leadership is conceptualised, operationalised, and evaluated. Future research should more explicitly define and examine community leadership roles, alongside strengthening institutionalised and sustainable collaborative mechanisms for emergency preparedness and response. Not applicable. This scoping review does not involve a healthcare intervention or human participant enrolment. The review protocol has been published previously and is publicly accessible.

Special Session 5 Student Diversity: Trail Blazers in Transforming the Culture of Ecology

Female genital mutilation (FGM/C) remains a major public health issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Mali, prevalence remains high despite decades of interventions. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to understand community perceptions of FGM/C and propose context-adapted strategies for its prevention. The study was conducted from May to September 2022 in five university-affiliated community health centers in Mali. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews (n=300), focus group discussions (n=100), and interviews with community leaders, institutional actors, and healthcare providers. A thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke's framework was performed. Findings indicate that most community members still support the continuation of FGM/C, viewing it as a deeply rooted social norm linked to tradition, religion, and control of female sexuality. Community leaders and healthcare providers are generally more supportive of abandonment, although some favor medicalization. Traditional excisers continue the practice despite training efforts. NGOs mainly rely on awareness-raising and legal enforcement strategies. The study highlights a gap between anti-FGM policies and sociocultural realities. It emphasizes the need for community-based approaches that incorporate local beliefs and behavioral models such as the Health Belief Model. Reorienting strategies toward health promotion and stronger community engagement appears crucial for sustainable change.