Community Engagement Strategies Research Articles

The Use of Social Marketing in Community-Wide Physical Activity Programs: A Scoping Review.

Previous community-wide physical activity trials have been criticized for methodological limitations, lack of population-level changes, and insufficient reach among underserved communities. Social marketing is an effective technique for community-wide behavior change and can coincide with principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR). A systematic scoping review of community-wide interventions (system-level) targeting physical activity and/or weight loss was conducted to (i) describe and critically discuss how social marketing strategies are implemented; (ii) identify which populations have been targeted, including underserved communities; (iii) evaluate the use of CBPR frameworks; (iv) assess retention rates; and (v) identify gaps in the literature and formulate future recommendations. Eligible studies included those that: aimed to improve physical activity and/or weight loss on a community-wide level, used social marketing strategies, and were published between 2007 and 2022. Approximately 56% of the studies reported a positive impact on physical activity. All studies described social marketing details in alignment with the five principles of social marketing (product, promotion, place, price, and people). Only two studies explicitly identified CBPR as a guiding framework, but most studies used one (k = 8, 32%) or two (k = 12, 48%) community engagement strategies. Few studies included at least 50% representation of African American (k = 2) or Hispanic (k = 3) participants. This review highlights key gaps in the literature (e.g., lack of fully-developed CBPR frameworks, reach among underserved communities, randomized designs, use of theory), highlights examples of successful interventions, and opportunities for refining community-wide interventions using social marketing strategies.

Understanding Perceptions of Tourism Impact on Quality of Life in Traditional Earthen–Wooden Villages: Insights from Residents and Tourists in Meishan

This study focuses on four traditional earthen–wooden villages in Hunan Province, exploring the multifaceted impacts of tourism development on the quality of life from the perspectives of both residents and tourists. Utilizing structural equation modeling, this research examines how macro-level cultural resources, meso-level spatial characteristics, and micro-level traditional architecture influence the development of cultural tourism and its subsequent effects on quality of life. The findings indicate that while cultural resources and spatial characteristics positively contribute to the quality of cultural tourism development, traditional architecture presents a complex challenge. Specifically, traditional architecture negatively impacts quality of life due to maintenance demands and modernization pressures, yet it also enhances cultural tourism through its intrinsic heritage value. Spatial characteristics are identified as the most significant positive factor, indirectly enhancing both tourism quality and overall life satisfaction by enriching the cultural landscape. Additionally, the study uncovers significant differences in how residents and tourists perceive the impacts of tourism. Tourists generally seek enriching and authentic experiences, while residents are more directly affected by the socio-economic and environmental changes brought by tourism. This divergence highlights the need for balanced and targeted management strategies that address the distinct needs and perceptions of both groups at various stages of tourism development. By addressing these dynamic factors, this study offers valuable insights for policymakers and administrators aiming to balance heritage preservation with sustainable economic growth in traditional earthen–wooden villages. The research also underscores the critical role of community engagement and adaptive strategies in fostering resilient and thriving rural communities in the 21st century.

Complicating “community” engagement: Reckoning with an elusive concept in climate-related planned relocation

As planned relocation becomes an increasingly utilized climate adaptation strategy, guidance for effective practice consistently emphasizes the importance of “community” engagement throughout relocation planning, decision-making, and implementation. Yet “community” is not a monolith operating in consensus, where engagement is achieved simply through the interaction of internal and external actors. To move beyond this binary paradigm where community engagement is a box to be checked, we offer a conceptual framework with three key questions for consideration for those operationalizing community engagement strategies in relocation policy and practice. 1) Who constitutes the community in planned relocation? 2) Who facilitates planned relocation? 3) What is meaningful community engagement? As part of this framework, we introduce the overlooked role of actors bridging community and facilitation worlds, here called intermediaries, and how they can enhance or hinder meaningful engagement. Finally, we explore novel approaches for researchers and practitioners to advance context-specific engagement before, during, and after climate-related relocation processes to promote genuine self-determination among those relocating.

Community acceptance of a novel malaria intervention, Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits, in the Zambia phase III trial

BackgroundCommunity acceptance is an important criterion to assess in community trials, particularly for new tools that require high coverage and use by a target population. Installed on exterior walls of household structures, the attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) is a new vector control tool designed to attract and kill mosquitoes. ATSBs were evaluated in Western Zambia during a two-year cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of ATSBs in reducing malaria transmission. Community acceptance of ATSBs was critical for successful trial implementation.MethodsA community engagement strategy outlined activities and key messages to promote acceptance. Annual cross-sectional surveys, conducted during the peak transmission period, assessed households for presence of ATSBs as well as perceived benefits, concerns, and willingness to use ATSBs. Sixteen focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews, conducted at the end of each ATSB station deployment period, obtained a range of perceptions and household experiences with ATSB stations, as well as ITN use in the context of ATSB deployment.ResultsMethods used during the study to promote acceptance and continued use of ATSBs were effective in achieving greater than 90% coverage, a high (greater than 70%) level of perceived benefits, and fewer than 10% of households reporting safety concerns. Common facilitators of acceptance included the desire for protection against malaria and reduction of mosquitoes, trust in health initiatives, and understanding of the product. Common barriers to acceptance included misconceptions of product impact on mosquitoes, continued cases of malaria, association with satanism, and damage to household structures.DiscussionFuture use of the ATSB intervention will likely require activities that foster community acceptance before, during, and after the intervention is introduced. Additional research may be needed to understand the impact of different levels of community engagement on ATSB station coverage, ATSB station perception, and ITN use.ConclusionThere was high acceptance of ATSB stations during the trial in Western Zambia. Continuous and intense community engagement efforts contributed to sustained ATSB coverage and trust in the product. Acceptance of ATSBs during programmatic delivery requires further research.

Marine Tourism Potential of Jikomalamo Beach Ternate, North Maluku Province

This research aims to assess the potential and governance of tourism to formulate participation management strategies for the marine touris attraction of Jikomalamo Beach in Ternate. Data for this research were obtained through observation methods, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis, IFAS, EFAS analysis, and SWOT analysis, which resulted in participation management strategies. The results of this research shows that the strengths of Jikomalamo management include community participation in destination management, potential for underwater tourism, management of water sport facilities, and the existence of a dive center management. Meanwhile, the weaknesses of Jikomalamo Ternate include the absence of a tourism management organization (pokdarwis), lack of management of human resources quality, lack of stakeholder involvement, and the absence of a tourist information center. Based on the Internal External (IE) matrix, it is known that the position of Jikomalamo Beach management is in quadrant one which is strong. where the strategy used is Growth strategy. Based on the SWOT analysis, it is known that there are six alternative participatory management strategies to be applied, namely community engagement strategy, human resource development, establishment of management organizations, collaboration among stakeholders, and improvement of tour packages.

British Muslims and the census: the need for statistical visibility vis-a-vis government surveillance concerns

ABSTRACT The National Census of Population is conducted every 10 years and produces the most comprehensive set of statistics about Muslims living in the United Kingdom. Yet, despite the census data’s utility, research among a sample of British Muslims, as discussed in this article, identified concerns on how such statistics can be misconstrued, due to a widespread normalisation of Islamophobia within British society and the media. Furthermore, a lack of trust in the government’s intentions to use such data to benefit Muslim neighbourhoods and communities is discussed as contributing towards both apathy and hesitancy in sharing personal information on survey forms. The findings of this study are important for agencies and relevant government departments, as well as academics and organisations for developing strategies for community engagement with official surveys. The benefits of doing so would be to encourage greater accuracy of data on Muslims, particularly hard-to-reach communities, better allocation of funds for local services and planning, and an increased trust between Muslims and relevant government agencies.

Evolving Dynamics of Higher Education Institutions and Their Cities (1980-2020)

This research examines the significance of higher education institutions (HEIs) as anchors in their host cities and their community engagement strategies from 1980 to 2020. By examining four case studies of urban-based universities that are members of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) across diverse geographical and socio-economic contexts, this study analyzes the impact of anchor strategies on local communities, economic growth, and urban revitalization. Two public institutions—Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) and the University of Pretoria (Mamelodi Campus, South Africa)—and two private institutions—Syracuse University (S.U.) and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)—comprise the four selected institutions. Comparative analysis of the case studies reveals that effective anchor strategies frequently involve multidimensional approaches that address their respective cities' social, economic, and public safety challenges. In addition, I identify the key factors contributing to the efficacy of anchor strategies, such as strong leadership, stakeholder collaboration, and maximizing the role of foundations and long-term vision. The findings of my study highlight the significance of universities as significant agents of urban change in guiding policymakers, urban planners, and higher education administrators who seek to harness the potential of universities in shaping sustainable and inclusive community engagement. My findings highlight the interplay between universities and their environments rooted in their host cities.

Levers and obstacles for implementing public engagement practices in electricity grid development

The scale of change required through the development of new energy infrastructure throughout Europe is vast. The societal dimensions of the energy transition are increasingly recognised as centrally important and approaches to infrastructure development which seek to incorporate such considerations are warranted. EirGrid - Ireland's national electricity transmission operator - through their own historical context, have undergone a journey to develop new strategies for citizen and community engagement with relation to energy grid developments.Here, we reflect upon this journey, situating it within their previous failures and the national context. This process of reflective practice seeks to provide findings for other organisations internationally undertaking a journey towards establishing new engagement practices. The establishment of such practices is critical for enabling deeper societal engagement on the energy transition. A research gap exists in relation to the organisational development of new public engagement practices within institutions tasked with developing infrastructure associated with the energy transition. This creates a challenge whereby ever-increasing calls for public engagement are made, but no lessons exist with relation to how such new practices can be embedded within an organisational strategy. We contribute to this space through answering the research question: what are the key levers and barriers for organisation change towards new forms of public engagement in infrastructure delivery?The reflections outlined through this paper have been provided by individuals in different positions across the organisation. The paper develops key findings which add to the literature in relation to levers and obstacles for implementing public engagement and associated factors.

Enhancing equity in arts-based research engagement: Methodological considerations from a policy-oriented community-development study

ABSTRACT This paper provides reflexive account of an arts-based communication tool used for a community development project in Manitoba, Canada. Drawing upon an intersectional perspective of social, health, and environmental inequalities, the multi-phase engagement involved citizens (n = 17; n = 9) as well as global policymakers (n = 6) in healthy cities, age-friendly cities, and sustainable city policy arenas. A visual graphic was employed to foster bidirectional dialogue between concerned local residents and global policymakers, forming the backbone of a community engagement strategy. Reflective analysis demonstrates how art can be mobilized toward reducing inequalities while notable challenges remain—including omission of highly-sidelined perspectives amidst complex interdisciplinarity; potential reductionism leading to manufactured consent; and considerations of communities inherently excluded in a qualitative, arts-based community engagement. The impacts of art on power hierarchies, emotion, project efficiency, and privilege are reviewed, with the objective of supporting more inclusive arts-based communications in future research.

Urban farming and food supply: A comparative review of USA and African cities

Urban farming plays a crucial role in addressing food security challenges in both developed and developing regions. This comparative review explores the dynamics of urban farming and its impact on food supply in two diverse contexts: the United States (USA) and African cities. The study investigates the unique challenges and opportunities faced by urban farming initiatives in these regions, considering factors such as infrastructure, socio-economic conditions, and agricultural practices. In the USA, urban farming has gained momentum as a sustainable solution to enhance local food production and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transportation. The analysis delves into the policies, technological advancements, and community engagement strategies that have contributed to the success of urban farming in American cities. Additionally, the study examines the integration of rooftop gardens, vertical farming, and community-supported agriculture in the USA's urban landscape. Conversely, African cities grapple with distinct challenges in implementing and sustaining urban farming practices. The review explores the impact of rapid urbanization, limited resources, and diverse climatic conditions on the feasibility of urban agriculture in African contexts. Strategies such as community empowerment, micro-financing, and knowledge sharing are examined to understand their role in overcoming obstacles and fostering resilient urban farming systems. Keywords: Urban Farming, Food Supply, Sustainable Agriculture, USA, African Cities, Urbanization, Community Engagement, Agricultural Practices, Food Security, Comparative Analysis.

Adaptation and Reach of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Social Marketing Campaign for Latino, Latina, and Latinx Populations: Development Study.

Latino, Latina, and Latinx (Latino/a/x) individuals remain disproportionately impacted by HIV, particularly sexual minority men and transgender women. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective means of biomedical HIV prevention, but awareness and uptake remain low among marginalized Latino/a/x populations. Social marketing campaigns have demonstrated promise in promoting PrEP in other populations but are poorly studied in Latino/a/x sexual minority men and transgender women. This study aims to (1) adapt and pilot a PrEP social marketing campaign tailored to Latino/a/x populations with a focus on sexual minority men and transgender women through community-based participatory research (CBPR) and (2) evaluate the reach and ad performance of the adapted PrEP social marketing campaign. We used the ADAPT-ITT (assessment, decision, adaptation, production, topical experts-integration, training, and testing) framework for adapting evidence-based interventions for new settings or populations. This paper presents how each phase of the ADAPT-ITT framework was applied via CBPR to create the PrEPárate ("Be PrEPared") campaign. Key community engagement strategies included shared ownership with community partners, focus groups to guide content, crowdsourcing to name the campaign, design by local Latino/a/x artists, and featuring local influencers as the faces of PrEPárate. We evaluated campaign reach and advertisement performance using social media platform metrics (paid and organic reach, impressions, unique clicks, and click-through rates [CTR]) and website use statistics from Google Analytics. The PrEPárate campaign ran in Cook County, Illinois, from April to September 2022. The campaign reached over 118,750 people on social media (55,750 on Facebook and Instagram [Meta Platforms Inc] and 63,000 on TikTok [ByteDance Ltd]). The Meta ads performed over the industry benchmark with ads featuring local transgender women (2% CTR) and cisgender sexual minority men (1.4% CTR). Of the different Grindr (Grindr Inc) ad formats piloted, the interstitial Grindr ads were the highest performing (1183/55,479, 2.13% CTR). YouTube (Google) ads were low performing at 0.11% (153/138,337) CTR and were stopped prematurely, given limits on sexual education-related content. In the first year, there were 5006 visitors to the website. Adaptation of an existing evidence-based intervention served as an effective method for developing a PrEP social marketing campaign for Latino/a/x audiences. CBPR and strong community partnerships were essential to tailor materials and provide avenues to systematically address barriers to PrEP access. Social marketing is a promising strategy to promote PrEP among underserved Latino/a/x populations.

Analisis Kebijakan Kesehatan Mendorong Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Program Pencegahan Penyakit

This article analyzes health policies aimed at promoting community participation in disease prevention programs. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of current policies in fostering active involvement of communities in disease prevention efforts. Methodologically, a comprehensive review of existing health policies and their implementation strategies is conducted, focusing on case studies and empirical data from various regions. The results highlight the critical role of community engagement strategies in enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of disease prevention initiatives. The analysis underscores the importance of tailored policy interventions that empower communities through education, resources, and participatory decision-making processes, thereby strengthening public health outcomes and promoting a culture of proactive health management.

Fostering Inclusivity in Research Engagement for Underrepresented Populations in Parkinson's Disease: The FIRE-UP PD study

BackgroundMembers of vulnerable populations are underrepresented in Parkinson's disease (PD) research. A complex web of research barriers perpetuates this gap. Community-based research methods are one approach to addressing this issue. The present PD study was designed to examine the effectiveness of community-based interventions to overcome barriers and increase research participation among underrepresented groups (URGs). MethodsEight study sites across the US were selected and paired based on proposed interventions with specific URGs. Surveys assessed knowledge and attitudes toward PD research. Finally, researchers examined whether the present study affected recruitment to Fox Insight, an online PD research study also recruiting at each site. ResultsIn total, 474 participants were recruited. At post-intervention for the FIRE-UP PD Study, recruitment increased significantly in intervention compared to control sites among Black and African American non-Hispanic/Latino populations (p = 0.003), White Hispanic/Latino (p = 0.003) populations, and Not Listed Hispanic/Latino populations (p < 0.001) as well as those with an educational attainment of a high school diploma/General Education Diploma (GED) (p = 0.009), and an income <$20,000 (p = 0.005) or between $20,000–$34,999 (p < 0.001). Study surveys measuring changes in awareness and attitudes toward PD research had mixed results. In Fox Insight, 181 participants were passively recruited with a shift toward more diverse participant demographics. ConclusionResearch participation demographics reflective of the general population are critical to PD investigation and treatment. The FIRE-UP PD Study showed the effectiveness of localized community engagement strategies in increasing URG recruitment to PD research. Therefore, further PD research employing community-based methods to improve diverse participant recruitment is needed.

Social Perception and Support of a Public Sanitation Service in Bandung: Community Insights and Engagement Strategies

Social Perception and Support of a Public Sanitation Service in Bandung: Community Insights and Engagement Strategies

Bibliometric Analysis of Community Nursing Trends on the Role of Nurses in Community Health Improvement

This study employs bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer to map the landscape of health promotion research from 2004 to 2014. By analyzing research publications in this field, we identify thematic clusters, research trends, and emerging opportunities for future investigations. Our analysis reveals several thematic clusters central to health promotion, including health education, empowerment, community engagement, and the role of healthcare professionals. A temporal analysis of the research trends indicates a shift in focus from basic educational and community engagement strategies to more specialized areas, with a notable increase in research on mental health towards the end of the period studied. The examination of less illuminated areas within the network visualization highlights underexplored topics such as the roles of community pharmacists and integrative reviews, suggesting them as potential rich fields for future research. The study underscores the evolution of health promotion over the decade and points to new directions for comprehensive health strategies, aiming to bridge research gaps and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Challenges of Screening and Investigations of Contacts of Patients with Tuberculosis in Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with high rates of transmission and low case detection rates. This paper presents the challenges of screening and investigation of contacts of patients with TB in Oyo and Osun State, Nigeria. This descriptive-qualitative study was conducted in eight Local Government Areas with high TB burdens. Twenty-four focus group discussions and 30 key informant interviews were conducted among TB patients, household TB contacts, and government TB staff, among others. Respondents ages ranged from 17-85 years with a mean of 42.08 ± 14.9 years, and (4.0%) had a postgraduate degree. This study identified that the majority of TB contacts who tested negative for TB were unwilling to be placed on TB preventive therapy because of the belief that only a sick person should take drugs. Also, hostility from the TB contacts to the contact tracers during the house-to-house screening of presumptive TB cases due to community stigma associated with TB was another existing gap reported in TB contact investigations. The findings emphasise the importance of tailored approaches in TB prevention and control, addressing challenges in testing and contact investigations; this necessitates investments in community engagement strategies to enhance the cooperation of TB contacts.

Comparative Analysis of Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant

With the rapid development of e-sports and online games, shooting games have received significant global attention and popularity. This article uses the research methodology of literature review to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the disparities and attributes of the two shooting games, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) and Valorant, in terms of gameplay, community engagement, and business strategy. Through detailed analysis, this article finds that Valorant emphasizes character diversity and innovative skill systems in game design to enhance the strategy and interactivity of the game; while CS2 retains the fundamental aspects of traditional first-person shooting games, such as precise tactical execution and technical requirements, focusing on the technical depth and operational difficulty of the game. In terms of business model, CS2 continues the open market system for skin trading , fostering economic interaction among players. In contrast, Valorant adopts a more closed and direct sales approach, offering exclusive skins at fixed prices, and exerting control over the market. This research serves as a valuable resource for game developers in shaping future game design and market strategy, and it also introduces a new theoretical perspective to the field of game research, enhancing the understand of how different game designs influence player behavior and market response.

Analisis Perbandingan Komparasi Pendidikan Negara Maju untuk Kemajuan Pendidikan Sekolah Dasar di Indonesia

This research discusses the important role of basic education in national development, with the pressure of dissatisfaction between the education systems in developed countries and Indonesia. Drawing insights from superior education models in Finland, Japan and Singapore, this research aims to identify key factors that contribute to the success of these systems and recommendations that can be applied in the Indonesian context. Analysis focuses on curriculum development, teacher quality, technology integration, student-centered learning, and parent/community support. Developed countries prioritize curricula that emphasize 21st century skills, rigorous teacher selection, effective use of technology, student-focused learning, and strong parent/community involvement. By synthesizing the findings of this observational research, this study offers implementable insights for policy makers to improve the basic education system in Indonesia. These recommendations include curriculum reform, teacher training initiatives, technological infrastructure improvements, student-centered pedagogical approaches, and community engagement strategies. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the importance of learning from global best practices while considering Indonesia's unique cultural, social, and economic context to improve basic education nationally.

Design and rationale of the social determinants of the risk of hypertension in women of reproductive age (SAFE HEART) study: An American Heart Association research goes red initiative

BackgroundCardiovascular health literacy (CVHL) and social determinants of health (SDoH) play interconnected and critical roles in shaping cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes. However, awareness of CVH risk has declined markedly, from 65% of women being aware that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women in 2009 to just 44% being aware in 2019. The American Heart Association Research Goes Red (RGR) initiative seeks to develop an open-source, longitudinal, dynamic registry that will help women to be aware of and participate in research studies, and to learn about CVD prevention. We proposed to leverage this platform, particularly among Black and Hispanic women of reproductive age, to address CVHL gaps and advance health equity. MethodsThe primary objective of the study is to evaluate the cross-sectional association of CVHL, SDoH using a polysocial score, and CVH in women of reproductive age at increased risk of developing hypertension (HTN). To achieve this we will use a cross-sectional study design, that engages women already enrolled in the RGR registry (registry-enrolled). To enhance the racial and ethnic/social economic diversity of the cohort, we will additionally enroll 300 women from the Baltimore and Washington D.C. community into the Social Determinants of the Risk of Hypertension in Women of Reproductive Age (SAFE HEART) Study. Community-enrolled and registry-enrolled women will undergo baseline social phenotyping including detailed SDoH questionnaire, CVH metrics assessment, and CVHL assessment. The secondary objective is to assess whether a 4-month active health education intervention will result in a change in CVHL in the 300 community-enrolled women. DiscussionThe SAFE HEART study examines the association between CVHL, SDoH, and CVH, with a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged women of reproductive age, and the ability to improve these parameters by an educational intervention. These findings will inform the future development of community-engaged strategies that address CVHL and SDoH among women of reproductive age.

Strategies to foster community engagement for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThe surge of public health emergencies over the past decade has disproportionately affected sub-Saharan Africa. These include outbreaks of infectious diseases such as Ebola, Monkeypox and COVID-19. Experience has shown...