Community Mobilization Research Articles

Dementia Risk and Social Determinants of Health Among Adults Racialized as Black: A Community-Based System Dynamics Perspective.

The aging population in the USA is projected to increase significantly, with a corresponding rise in dementia cases, particularly among racial minorities. This study examines the key drivers of racial disparities in dementia risk among older Black adults in the St. Louis area, a region characterized by entrenched structural racism. Utilizing a Community-Based System Dynamics (CBSD) approach, we engaged cognitively normal Black adults (age ≥ 45) to explore the complex interplay of social and structural determinants of health (S/SDOH) affecting dementia risk. Eight CBSD workshops were conducted, during which participants identified and analyzed various factors influencing dementia risk through group model-building techniques. These workshops revealed multiple reinforcing and balancing feedback loops, highlighting the intricate relationships between trauma, health literacy, social isolation, education, healthcare access, and systemic racism. There were 59 participants with an average age of 64, a majority of women (88%) and college-educated (15.9years) residing in areas with moderately severe deprivation. The resulting Causal Loop Diagrams underscored the impact of poverty, discrimination, and limited access to quality education and healthcare on dementia risk across the lifespan. Participants proposed actionable interventions, including health information campaigns, community mobilization, and improvements in public transportation and healthcare accessibility. This study emphasizes the necessity of addressing S/SDOH to mitigate dementia risk among Black Americans. The findings call for targeted public health initiatives and policy changes to improve socioeconomic conditions and reduce racial disparities in dementia outcomes.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Use of Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Community Identification of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 in Kenya.

Mass testing with antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT), including testing of asymptomatic individuals, is expected to improve the identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Mass testing was offered at large gatherings to determine the SARS-CoV-2 case detection rate and the acceptance and cost of implementing this community testing strategy. In 49 high-attendance venues in Kiambu County, Kenya, from June to September 2022, individuals 2 years and older were offered coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, vaccination, and participation in a survey. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and genome sequencing were conducted for those testing positive by Ag-RDT and those testing negative but with COVID-19 symptoms. Costs were collected from financial records, budgets, and invoices and estimated from a health systems perspective using a micro-costing method. A total of 4,062 individuals were offered testing. The testing acceptance was 3,174/4,062 (78.1%). The case detection rate was 34/3,174 (1.07%; 95% CI: 0.7-1.4%), and 11/34 (32%) of the positives were asymptomatic. The PCR results were available for 27 Ag-RDT‒positive participants and 14 Ag-RDT‒negative participants with SARS-CoV-2 symptoms and were positive in 24/27 (88.9%) and 4/14 (28.6%), respectively. Circulating variants were identified in 11 participants. Community mobilization was the major cost driver (26%) followed by purchase of SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs (20.5%). The cost per individual tested was USD $15.89, and the cost per individual tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 was USD $1,484. The study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs could be used for identification of SARS-CoV-2 infections in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals at mass gatherings.

Faith-based Messaging and Materials for Colorectal Cancer Screening in the United States: Application of Boot Camp Translation within the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Black Church has long been an institution of refuge, mobilization, and healing in Black or African American communities. While health promotion interventions have been implemented in the Black Church, little is known about ways to incorporate faith into colorectal cancer (CRC) screening messages. Using modified boot camp translation, a community-based approach, we met with 27 members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, for in-person and virtual sessions to co-create faith-based CRC screening messages and identify channels for sharing information within the church community. Examples of messages developed included "Faith over fear" and "Honor God by taking care of your body." Identified dissemination channels included Sunday service, community events, and social media. Churches serve as key partners in delivering health information, as they are among the most trusted institutions within the Black or African American community.

Role of social innovations in health in the prevention and control of infectious diseases: a scoping review.

The implementation of social innovations for addressing societal challenges, particularly in health, leverages community participation and technology to optimally meet social needs compared to traditional approaches. A key feature of these innovations is their ability to utilize existing capacities for contributing to resolving infectious disease outbreaks, which has attracted significant attention from health organizations. Given the potential of these innovations, this study has investigated social innovations in the prevention and control of infectious diseases as one of the major global challenges in the form of a comprehensive literature review. This review study examined the relevant literature from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2022. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 50 documents were retained and fully examined. The documents were analyzed by applying a thematic analysis, and important content related to the application of social innovations for the prevention and control of pandemic infectious diseases was extracted using a data collection form. Five major themes concerning social innovation in the prevention and control of epidemic diseases were discerned as follows: new products, novel processes and policies, empowerment, innovative practices and behaviors, and community engagement. New products include technological products for control and management of epidemics, preventive products, diagnostic and therapeutic products. Novel processes and policies are related to reorienting and reorganizing care methods, control and monitoring policies, participatory and creative strategies. Empowerment is focused on enhancing the capabilities of health workers, community leaders, and communities. Innovative practices and behaviors involve technology-based participation and support mechanisms. Community engagement is related to awareness, consultation, community mobilization, and participation in production and support. During the outbreak of infectious diseases, governments are faced with many challenges, including health, economic and social challenges. To answer these challenges, tools should be used that have the ability to answer the problem from several aspects. Social innovation as an appropriate process in response to health crises has led to new forms of relationships and empowered the communities. And to promote public health, it provides the opportunity for all members of the society to participate in crisis resolution and optimal use of resources.

Experiences and perceptions of migrant populations in South Africa on COVID-19 immunization: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

IntroductionMigrant populations (asylum seekers, permit holders, refugees, and undocumented migrants) living in South Africa face various individual, social, and physical circumstances that underpin their decisions, motivation, and ability to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the experiences and perceptions of migrant populations in South Africa on COVID-19 vaccines to inform recommendations for improved COVID-19 immunization.MethodsWe conducted an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with 20 asylum seekers, permit holders, refugees, and undocumented migrants living in South Africa. We applied a maximum variation purposive sampling approach to capture all three categories of migrants in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded electronically with consent and permission from the study participants. The recordings were transcribed and analyzed thematically following the IPA using Atlas.ti version 9.ResultsFour major reflective themes emanated from the data analysis. (1) While some migrants perceived being excluded from the South African national immunization program at the level of advertisement and felt discriminated against at the immunization centers, others felt included in the program at all levels. (2) Skepticism, myths, and conspiracy theories around the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 vaccine are pervasive among migrant populations in South Africa. (3) There is a continuum of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance/hesitancy ranging from being vaccinated through waiting for the chance to be vaccinated to refusal. (4) Accepting the vaccine or being hesitant follows the beliefs of the participant, knowledge of the vaccine’s benefits, and lessons learned from others already vaccinated.ConclusionCOVID-19 vaccine inclusiveness, awareness, and uptake should be enhanced through migrant-aware policies and actions such as community mobilization, healthcare professional training, and mass media campaigns.

ENHANCING THE ROLE OF BINA KELUARGA BALITA (BKB) CADRES IN ACCELERATING STUNTING REDUCTION IN NAGARI TARATAK BARU, TANJUNG GADANG DISTRICT, SIJUNJUNG REGENCY

Bina Keluarga Balita cadres are one of the components that have an active role with parents in providing optimization of growth and development since 1000 first days of life through continuous parenting activities. The study was conducted to describe the increasing role of cadres in the Prevention of stunting in order to measure success, identify obstacles, more efficient allocation of resources, and improve the program Bina Keluarga Balita. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Data collection is done by interview, observation and documentation. Taking data from Bina Keluarga Balita activities in Nagari Taratak Baru, Tanjung Gadang District, Sijunjung Regency, West Sumatra province. The results showed that: 1) the role of Bina Keluarga Balita cadres in Accelerating of Reduction and Prevention of Stunting is through community mobilization, counseling and monitoring; (2) the efforts made by cadres in improving the knowledge of parents in Reduction and Prevention of Stunting namely through Bina Keluarga Balita materials, toddler mother classes, stimulation and facilitation of child growth and development; (3). Obstacles faced by cadres in the Prevention of stunting are cadre capacity, Bina Keluarga Balita facilities and infrastructure, and operational activities.

A Culture of Chain Mobility Among Small Islanders: A Case Study of Lease Islanders' Mobility to Ambon City

People who live in the archipelago have a high mobility culture. The life of the people makes the island not a separator from the mainland, but the island is believed to be an inseparable part. Land and sea become one unit of life for people living on small islands. Therefore, mobility is also part of their lives, so the sea is not a barrier to their mobility. This research aims to explain the cultural process of chain mobility of Lease Islands residents to Ambon City. The research method used is the case study method because this research aims to reveal the behavior and cultural process of chain mobility of island communities. This research uses a single case study method. The number of case units in this study was 7 case units. The results showed that the migrant network in the destination area is one of the critical factors and is very influential in the migrant's decision to migrate or stay in origin. The network of previous migrants who have formed in the city is one of the factors that determine the continuity of migrants to stay in the destination area. This lengthy process of mobility creates intergenerational mobility. It is shown by the existence of clans from the Lease Islands found also in Ambon City. The clans have developed and come from generations whose sequence is no longer known, only known from the name of the clan that follows it. The facts on the field show that mobility is a way of life for islanders. Observations in origin also show that almost every family has family members who live outside the island, especially in Ambon City. Keywords: hain mobility, culture, small Island, lease

Examining the Utilisation of Pascal’s Triangle for Community Development and Allocation of Resources in Eastern Uganda

Challenges ranging from resource scarcity to social deprivation and environmental concerns confront the East Region of Uganda. Let’s focus on Pascal’s Triangle as a conceptual model to deal with the problems of unjust resource distribution among communities. This model, which is a triangular arrangement of numbers, affords an opportunity to gain useful insights into community interactions and the process of resource distribution. Understanding Pascal’s triangle’s mathematical nature is a key driving force behind realistic and feasible resource allocation methods and community development approaches. Equal resource distribution methods, clear resource allocation mechanisms, community involvement, and multi-level cooperation are essential for promoting fairness and resilience. East Ugandan communities celebrate diversity as a resource for social cohesion, creativity, and resilience. Collaboration and unity are keys to getting over the difficulties and achieving great heights. It creates resilience and sustainability through community-based organisations, cooperative ventures, and participatory decision-making processes. When involved in solving complex problems, education serves as a key tool for empowering individuals and communities. Participatory decision-making creates a degree of transparency and representativeness in resource allocation. Merging community building and resource deployment with SDGs ensures sustainability and durability. Policies and programmes that address gender issues and encourage community participation are the keys to improving inclusivity. This review article examines Community Building and Resource Allocation: Learning from the Pascal Triangle in Eastern Uganda: Insights. We used data from the last decade (2014–2024) available from many reliable data sources. The findings advocate for community participation in decision-making, the implementation of policies that promote gender equality and social inclusion, collaboration among stakeholders, and the prioritization of education and capacity building, in addition to the integration of Sustainable Development Goals into community development plans and the strengthening of local governance institutions for equitable resource distribution. To solve complicated issues in the east of Uganda, it’s imperative to put more emphasis on equal resource allocation, community mobilisation, and social integration. Apply the insights from Pascal’s Triangle to foster communities that are adaptable, inclusive, and stable. Keywords: Community Building, Resource Allocation, Pascal’s Triangle, East Uganda, Resilience, Sustainable Development Goals

Exploring the Role of Local Artists in Public Health Campaigns

This paper investigates the role of local artists in public health campaigns, emphasizing how art can serve as a potent tool for health communication. By examining case studies and the intersection of art and public health, the paper reveals how local artists contribute to community mobilization, enhance message dissemination, and foster behavioral changes through various creative mediums. The study also examines the challenges artists face in such campaigns, including funding, recognition, and integration into public health initiatives. Recommendations are offered for fostering more effective collaborations between artists and health professionals, promoting the co-creation of impactful health messaging. Keywords: Local artists, public health campaigns, health communication, community engagement, art and health collaboration.

Settings of community engagement: beyond the Janus-faced post-political in ‘neoliberalised’ London

Drawing on an in-depth analysis of the politics of a large-scale urban development in London, as part of a wider comparative project, this paper reconsiders the post-political conclusions of an earlier round of research on large scale developments in Europe. Through a critical re-reading of Jacques Rancière’s analysis and attending to insights from wider accounts of urban politics from the majority urban world, including our own comparative research on Johannesburg and Shanghai, the paper considers the potential of political contestation and engagement. Concepts such as ‘insurgent citizens’, the ‘arts of citizenship’, and the multiple roles of the state, provide focus for a nuanced assessment of the achievements and potential of residents’ and wider community engagements in planning in the case of Old Oak, north-west London. First designated as an ‘Opportunity Area’ and then a Mayoral Development Corporation, substantial investment has been made by the Mayor of London in stimulating development around the site of a new High Speed Train station at Old Oak. Community mobilisation took the form of a network of existing organisations and residents across a large area, encompassing a diverse population and including large swathes of railway and industrial land, making connections were hard to forge. The ambition of the Mayoral Development Corporation created a range of different settings for progressing planning and development, from open engagements with communities over planning visions, to informal and restricted discussions of development applications, secretive master planning initiatives, and highly legalistic procedures of formal inspection. Disaggregating the unitary assessment of politics embedded in post-political analysis, the paper identifies the series of ‘settings’ in which different combinations of political openings, closures and opportunities for advancing concerns of community-based movements can be located. The analysis signposts scope for a more targeted political ambition, based on a community-based strategic assessment of the fragmentation of planning practice. Notably, the negotiations to determine planning gain between planners and developers were identified by the community groups as crucial to shaping development outcomes, with the growing demand to open these to public scrutiny.

Collaboration to Reduce Sudden Unexpected Infant Death With Child Fatality Review and Outreach.

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the leading cause of postneonatal infant mortality in the United States, with disproportionately high rates in Baltimore City and Baltimore County in Maryland. This Advocacy Case Study describes the collaboration between the City and County Child Fatality Review teams to decrease infant mortality. B'more for Healthy Babies, formed in 2009 by the Bureau of Maternal Child Health in Baltimore City with the goal of reducing infant mortality through policy change, service improvements, community mobilization, and behavior change has had a sustained effort to respond to SUID. Recognizing that infants born in Baltimore City often reside in Baltimore County (and vice versa), collaboration with Baltimore County has been essential to increasing B'more for Healthy Babies' scope, reach, and effectiveness. Public health messaging campaigns, creation, and dissemination of a "SLEEP SAFE" testimonial video, and Safe Sleep Summits have involved caregivers, healthcare providers, and community partners. Outcomes of this ongoing collaboration demonstrate a decrease in sleep-related infant mortality rates. Our findings also highlight the need for continued, real time monitoring of sleep-related infant mortality trends with a coordinated, multidisciplinary, and crossjurisdictional response. This initiative can serve as a model of cross-sector communication that can be replicated in other similar geographic locations to further reduce SUID.

Planned stitching, practical suturing: assembling community voices and mobilisation across difference in Johannesburg’s corridors of freedom

The City of Johannesburg’s Corridors of Freedom (CoF), launched in 2013, were intended to cut across the economically and racially divided city using infrastructure and interventions in the built environment around new transport nodes. Undertaken in haste for political reasons and projected to be delivered as swiftly as possible, those driving this mega project oversaw substantial consultation exercises, but provided relatively few spaces for direct engagement to shape the project. This paper presents the experiences of a team of engaged-researchers, a long-standing NGO in partnership with University-based scholars jointly investigating the CoF development process. Interested in the ways in which the CoF initiative sought to ‘stitch’ the city together, our contribution to the project was to engage with different communities, clarify their different experiences with participation in the Corridors development and explore the possibility of collaboration across these different communities. Using the conceptual framework of stitching and suturing, the paper, in two parts, interrogates the roles that engaged partners can have in complex and diverse communities and our ability to support engagement. We reveal the limitations of engaged research when faced with political and institutional cycles that do not synchronise with the research projects, and point to the cleavages and disruptions that result when the local state does not systematically incorporate the needs and lived realities of its residents.

Exploring Synergies Between Community Mobilisation and Cash Transfers in Bangladesh

This article presents insights from the Child Labour: Action-Research-Innovation in South and South-Eastern Asia (CLARISSA) social protection cash plus intervention in a low‑income neighbourhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Adopting a novel methodology, we use community mobilisers’ monthly narrative reports, so-called ‘micronarratives’, to understand synergies between implementation and outcomes of community mobilisation activities (the ‘plus’) and cash transfers. We find that households face many intersecting problems, including health issues, low income, and indebtedness, and community mobilisation lays a foundation for households to be heard and become more resilient in the face of these problems. The introduction of cash transfers facilitated individuals and households to act on the advice and ideas offered by the community mobilisers. Households became more willing to speak with community mobilisers even when they explained that the cash transfer was unconditional on their counselling service. Some households started income-generating activities with their savings.

3.F. Round table: Legal action & capacity building: essential for climate action to protect and promote public health

Abstract The climate crisis is the single biggest threat to global health, peace and security, a crisis multiplier, and a significant driver of health inequalities within and between countries. In many areas of public health policy, legal action and litigation have delivered significant and long-lasting impacts. Court action is a strong domain of legal policy and practice to address climate change and related air pollution in many countries, and increasingly in international courts and tribunals. Examples include the 2021 landmark UK Coroners Report on the asthma-related death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, the 2023 UN General Assembly Request for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on states’ obligations to address climate change, and the 2024 European Court of Human Rights decision in Klimanseniorinnen v. Switzerland. Climate litigation also creates opportunities for public scrutiny and debate by raising awareness of inaction or harm caused by governments or private sector polluters, generating wider community mobilisation for action. Since 2021, the EUPHA Law and Public Health Section, Faculty of Public Health (UK), Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, Global Network for Academic Public Health, ASPHER and other partners have collaborated to build ethicolegal competence and capacity of public health professionals for climate action. Initiatives have also included research, advocacy, and resource development, and exploring opportunities for legal action and litigation, including at the International Conference on Strategic Litigation and Public Health (Liverpool, 2023). The roundtable will present key findings from an evaluation of the course on climate change organised by the ASPHER and the Global Consortium on Health and Climate Education (GCHCE), and learnings and feedback from the publication ‘From analysis to action: climate change litigation. A guide for public health professionals’, which was launched at the 16th European Public Health Conference. The expert panel will also reflect on whether the nature of current educational materials, means and methods in curriculum and training initiatives are effective, appropriate, adequate, and sufficient. Should climate change be part of One Health and Planetary Health programmes rather than a distinct entity? What is the role of, and what are the opportunities for, public health professionals to be engaged in climate litigation? What are the gaps and opportunities through strategic networking with environmental and legal experts, and affected communities? The roundtable will be interactive and invite input and insights from the participants to explore opportunities to further advance the agenda. Key messages • Public health professionals have a key and increasing role in climate law and litigation: interdisciplinary collaboration is essential. • Public health professionals have multiple avenues for capacity building on opportunities to address climate and environmental impacts on public health through law. Speakers/Panelists David Patterson University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands Farhang Tahzib Faculty of Public Health, Haywards heath, UK Liz Green Public Health Wales, Wrexham, UK Ana-Catarina Pinho-Gomes University College London, London, UK

Legal perspectives on climate change and inequalities

Abstract In many areas of public health policy, litigation has delivered significant, long-lasting impacts. Examples include tobacco control, increasing access to treatments for HIV, and addressing air pollution and climate change. Litigation is an established part of public health’s advocacy toolbox in national courts, and increasingly in international courts and tribunals. In responding to climate change, in addition to potential policy and law reform, climate change litigation creates opportunities for public scrutiny and debate by raising awareness of inaction or harm caused by governments or private sector polluters, and sparking wider community mobilisation for climate action. Where climate change litigation is based on human rights claims, credible science-based evidence of the health and other human rights impacts of climate change is essential. Public health professionals are increasingly involved in assembling and presenting such evidence, often focusing on vulnerable populations. However, the multiple intersecting identities of vulnerable populations have not been sufficiently explored. For example, how does intersectional disadvantage influence the ways in which evidence of the impact of climate change is assembled and assessed? How are these issues addressed in the courts? Examples include older women (KlimaSeniorinnen v. Switzerland), young people, from both the global South and global North, in urban or remote areas, or with different pre-existing health conditions (Sacchi et al. v. Argentina et al), and Indigenous people, including women and children (Daniel Billy and others v. Australia; Teitiota and others v. New Zealand). Multiple identities can compound vulnerability. For example, young people may be more vulnerable both due to their physical immaturity and due to eco-anxiety and other mental health impacts. This presentation will explore these issues, and the critical role of public health professionals in legal action to address climate change.

The Critical Role of the 4th “P”: Addressing the Impact of “Otherness” on Human Trafficking Prevention Efforts

ABSTRACT Prevention is the key to reducing human trafficking prevalence, and awareness-raising campaigns are the most common form of trafficking intervention; however, there is little evidence that these activities translate to actions that prevent human trafficking. The “otherness” issue – the belief that human trafficking is a problem for “other” communities but not a problem within one’s own community – has been identified as a potential barrier to effective human trafficking prevention interventions. In this article, we unpack the “otherness” issue and build on Todres (2009) “otherness-aware” framework to develop a theoretical model for understanding otherness within the context of human trafficking prevention interventions. Drawing on evidence from public health, we discuss the community mobilization intervention framework, which is centered on partnership and community engagement, as a potentially useful strategy for addressing the “otherness” issue and improving the effectiveness of human trafficking prevention interventions. We conclude that meaningful partnership with communities is a key to developing contextually relevant, community-empowering approaches to prevent human trafficking. This article has implications for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which aims to support inclusive communities through targets such as reducing violence, ending human trafficking and amplifying developing countries’ participation in global decision-making.

Preparing for the Implementation of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Within the Brazilian Public Health System (ImPrEP CAB Brasil): Qualitative Study.

Although long-acting, injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven efficacious for HIV prevention in clinical trials, research is needed to guide effective implementation in real-world settings. Formative work with community members and health care providers (HCPs) is important to provide insight into the needs and contexts of specific populations and reveal potential barriers and facilitators for implementation projects. We aimed to describe the results from formative work to develop an implementation package for CAB-LA PrEP within the ImPrEP CAB Brasil study. ImPrEP CAB Brasil is an implementation study of same-day delivery of CAB-LA PrEP for young sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups (aged 18-30 years) in 6 existing oral PrEP public health clinics. We conducted formative research to prepare for the implementation of ImPrEP CAB Brasil through community mobilization, process mapping with HCPs with experience in CAB-LA, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with young SGM groups (n=92) and HCPs (n=20) to identify initial perceptions of facilitators and barriers for CAB-LA PrEP implementation, refine the mobile health (mHealth) educational tool, and evaluate the acceptability of using a text message appointment reminder intervention through WhatsApp. FGDs were recorded, transcribed, systematically coded, and analyzed with thematic categorization by trained researchers using a qualitative data analysis program ATLAS.ti (version 7). A community mobilization team comprising 34 SGM community leaders collaborated in creating a prototype for an mHealth educational tool and contributed to the planning of peer education activities. We created 3 process maps for each site to describe the initial visit, follow-up visits, and laboratory flow. The main challenge identified for same-day CAB-LA PrEP delivery was the extended duration of clinic visits due to the numerous laboratory tests and HIV counseling steps required. Proposed solutions included having point-of-care HIV rapid tests instead of laboratory tests and additional counseling staff. Barriers for CAB-LA PrEP implementation identified through FGDs were the training of HCPs, support for adherence to injection appointments, and stigma or discrimination against SGM groups and persons using PrEP. The mHealth educational tool and WhatsApp reminders were highly acceptable by SGM groups and HCPs, indicating their potential to support PrEP choice and adherence. Content analysis on the cultural appropriateness of the language and overall clarity of the material contributed to the refinement of the mHealth tool. Structured formative work with SGM persons and HCPs generated important refinements to context-specific materials and plans to launch ImPrEP CAB Brasil in public health clinics. Ongoing implementation monitoring will use the process maps to identify additional barriers and potential solutions to same-day delivery of CAB-LA PrEP. Summative evaluations are needed to measure the effectiveness of the mHealth educational tool to support PrEP choice and the use of WhatsApp appointment reminders.

Design Thinking for Kami Peduli Website to Mobilize Community Disaster Response

Central Sulawesi, particularly Palu City, is a disaster-prone area with communities lacking sufficient knowledge and preparation for natural disaster risks. This study aims to develop a sustainable digital platform that enhances community preparedness through a user-friendly and engaging website design. By applying the Design Thinking method, the platform integrates sustainable digital innovation to provide essential information on disaster-prone areas, volunteer opportunities, and donation channels. The platform’s design prioritizes efficient use of digital resources to minimize environmental impact, supporting long-term resilience and community mobilization. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, data was gathered through questionnaires and interviews with PMI staff, volunteers, and the public. The Design Thinking stages: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, were employed to create a responsive and effective user experience. SEQ testing results revealed an average usability score of 4.25, highlighting the platform's ease of use. This project contributes to sustainable innovation in disaster preparedness by leveraging digital resources to empower communities in Central Sulawesi.

A GESTÃO DA CAPACITAÇÃO DO AGENTE COMUNITÁRIO DE SAÚDE NA ATENÇÃO BÁSICA COM AS ESPECIFICIDADES DA GESTÃO PÚBLICA

The article analyzes the management of training for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Primary Care, focusing on strategies to promote the continuous improvement of these professionals’ competencies. It highlights the relevance of CHWs, who act as a link between the community and health services, contributing to disease prevention and the promotion of educational and community mobilization actions. The research was conducted through a bibliographic and qualitative review, addressing the impact of investment in CHW training to strengthen Primary Care. Continuous training is presented as essential for ensuring comprehensive and humanized care, enabling CHWs to work more effectively and adapt to the specific needs of communities. It concludes that investment in qualification is indispensable for the consolidation of the Unified Health System (SUS), enhancing health actions and improving the indicators of the populations served.

Commodity association’s roles and determinants of farmers’ participation in their climate change adaptation activities in Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT This paper examined the commodity association’s roles and determinants of farmers’ participation in climate change adaptation in Sierra Leone. The three most prominent commodity associations were purposively selected due to membership size and the diversity of services rendered to members, which was followed by random selection of elected leaders to give a sample size of 140. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and subjected to percentages and Probit regression analysis. The results show that the majority of the respondents across the crop, fishery and livestock commodity associations are middle-aged, male, with no formal education, married, high awareness of climate change, high incidence of climate change activities and low socioeconomic status. The use of community radios to present programs on climate adaptation techniques to members across different commodity associations is the most prominent activity (55.67%). Other major prominent climate adaptation activities of commodity associations are community mobilisation (53%), community seed multiplication (52.33%), diversification of livelihoods (50.67%) and workshops (50%). The determinants of participation in community associations’ climate adaptation activities are age, gender, socioeconomic status, education, socioeconomic status, climate change incidence, farming system factors and climate change awareness. The commodity associations are thus enhancing climate adaptation through services and activities to their members.