Community Participatory Approaches Research Articles

The Psychological Effects of Environmental Degradation on Human Well-Being

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. Through a comprehensive review of empirical studies, it revealed the pervasive nature of environmental degradation's impact on human mental health, consistently finding associations between exposure to various environmental stressors and adverse psychological outcomes. The study emphasized the interconnectedness between environmental health and human well-being, highlighting the need for holistic approaches to sustainability that integrate mental health considerations. It underscored the importance of community engagement and participatory approaches in addressing the psychological effects of environmental degradation, advocating for community-based interventions to promote resilience and sustainable development. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Ecopsychology theory, Conservation Psychology theory and Stress and Coping theory may be used to anchor future studies on the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. The study offered valuable recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It emphasized the need for an integrated theoretical framework that accounted for the multidimensional nature of environmental degradation and its psychological impacts. The recommendations highlighted the importance of integrating mental health considerations into environmental conservation efforts, promoting nature-based interventions, and prioritizing evidence-based policy reforms. Community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and longitudinal research were identified as key strategies for addressing the psychological effects of environmental degradation and fostering resilience. Overall, the study provided a comprehensive roadmap for advancing understanding and addressing the complex interplay between environmental change and mental health outcomes.

Strengthening the Potential of Bongan Tourism Village through Community Engagement

The development of tourist villages in Bali is a primary focus in efforts to advance the tourism industry. The potential of tourist villages encompasses natural beauty, culture, and traditions as tourism destination potentials. Community service plays a crucial role in the development of tourist villages in Bali. The method of community participation approach in sustainable tourism development was applied to 20 young participants in this program in August 2023.The use of training and skill development methods in the field of digital communication technology is highly relevant in the implementation of this community service. This method enables young people in Bongan Tourist Village to improve the promotion of their village. It helps them identify issues, explore their potential, analyze the resources they have, and determine strategic steps for the long-term management of the Tourist Village and how to promote it effectively.

Co-Partnering in a Virtual Photovoice Study Design With Older Adults: A Methodological Approach.

Gerontology offers a range of participatory research options with more commonly used community participatory-based research or participatory action research approaches. Photovoice's visual representation of lived experiences offers a unique opportunity for older adults to fully cocreate research. This article describes the process of codesigning a virtual photovoice study with older adults. The design process is described in 3 phases: codesign during the initial study design, throughout the study and data-collection process, and during dissemination. In this methodological article, substantive findings from an Institutional Review Board approved study where older adults created photos of the meaning of "home" through Zoom interviews are used to illustrate codesign in a virtual photovoice study. The process includes engagement with the Aging PCOR Learning Collaborative's Older Adult Subcommittee, Healthier Black Elders' Community Advisory Board, and older adults in the study. Work with advisory groups offered more dimensions to the study's planning, conduction, and dissemination, expanding the study's reach, inclusion, and framing. This collaboration created a greater exchange of dialogue and bidirectional flow of expression. The researcher became the subject, and older adults navigated study protocols. Older adults' increased self-reflection, spontaneous essays, and shared resources with the researcher expanded understanding. Older adults' revisions of this manuscript deepened content exploration. This article highlights the role of codesign throughout all a study's phases, where a researcher can work within the hyphen expanding connections with older adults. Their empowerment lets more complex, varied ideas develop.

The Biodiversity of Anopheles and Malaria Vector Control in Indonesia: A Review

Malaria is a re-emerging vector-borne disease. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites namely P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. knowlesi. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes from the genus Anopheles. The genus Anopheles comprises more than 480 described species worldwide and many more are yet to be described. It is known that there are more than 100 species of Anopheles that can transmit malaria parasites to humans. The present review aims to assess studies on the biodiversity of Anopheles as a malaria vector and its control in Indonesia. The results showed that a total of 80 species of Anopheles mosquitos are reported in Indonesia, and at least 31 species of Anopheles mosquitoes have been reported as malaria vectors in Indonesia. Several efforts to decrease the number of malaria cases are the distribution and wide-scale use of Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Bednets (LLIN), Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) applications, larvae control, and environmental management. Vector control and entomological surveillance of malaria are one of the main domains for achieving malaria elimination. In conclusion, a combination of national policies, local-specific, habitat-specific, and community participation approaches are needed for effective malaria vector control in Indonesia.

Village plan for disaster mitigation (case study: Reconstruction of Gampong Pande post-earthquake and tsunami disaster)

Gampong Pande on the north coast of Banda Aceh city which was destroyed after the 2004 earthquake and tsunami has been reconstructed with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with a comprehensive approach. One of the important steps taken for future disaster mitigation is to develop a village plan. The village plan was prepared with the aim of rebuilding the village and its inhabitants with a “build back better” approach. The community participation approach is carried out while respecting local culture but trying to introduce ecological aspects as part of disaster mitigation as well as economic resources. Village plans are also prepared based on efforts to minimize changes the existing land ownership patterns to avoid social conflicts, so that massive and careful social and land ownership data collection is carried out. To increase safety efforts during the earthquake and tsunami disaster, proper access is made for all land and houses to the ideal evacuation route. In addition to rebuilding houses to standards that are in accordance with the building code, the village plan is also presenting the development of better environmental infrastructure and facilities as part of efforts to rebuild community livelihoods after the disaster. Environmental quality improvement is also carried out by utilizing local coastal plants for ecological disaster as well as for community economic improvement.

Improving Traffic Safety Through A Community Participation Approach

The rapid growth of transportation has become essential to mobility in modern times. Increased activity will go hand in hand with increased movement of people and goods. This will have an impact on increasing the potential for transportation accidents, especially road traffic and transportation accidents. Based on data from the Indonesian National Police, by 2022, around 1.35 million people will die due to road traffic accidents, or more than 3,712 people per day. Lack of knowledge about traffic safety is the main problem in this community service. This community service was held in collaboration with the Grobogan Regency Transportation Office. The method used in this activity is by using lectures, questions and answers, giving case examples and practicing emergency response in the event of an accident. Based on the results of the activity, there was an increase in the value of knowledge and understanding of traffic safety by 30%. This shows that the material provided during the implementation can be accepted and applied by the participants.

Hopes and Realities: Local Perspectives on Participation in Community-Based Tourism

Tourism development has been promoted as an alternative major source of income for countries and local communities. This perspective has further underscored local communities as critical stakeholders in tourism development. As such, community-based tourism gained momentum as a viable community participation approach for sustainable tourism development. However, even though community participation is said to be critical in sustainable tourism development, relatively little is known about how locals perceive community-based tourism as an alternative for sustainable livelihood, let alone the kind of local participation expected. The purpose of this article is to determine how the Mmadinare community in Botswana perceives community-based tourism and their own participation. The radical empowerment theory provides a theoretical framework. A qualitative multiple-case study approach using semi-structured interviews and focus groups was applied to gather data. The findings suggest that, in reality, community participation in tourism initiatives remains a challenge attributed to the lack of funding, a lack of capacity building, the limited involvement in decision-making platforms, the low awareness level of tourism development, and an unsuitable policy framework.

Community engagement and financial arrangements: Navigating institutional change.

Despite their documented benefits, the widespread adoption of community-engaged and participatory approaches among health researchers remains limited. Institutional practices and policies influence the uptake of community engagement and participatory approaches. We examine the role of financial arrangements between university researchers and community partners, by exploring efforts to bridge the gap between research administration and researchers at two research-intensive institutions. The type of financial arrangement a researcher has with a community partner plays an important role in setting the stage for the structure of the partnership as it relates to shared decision-making and ownership of the research. Continued efforts to clarify and streamline subcontracting processes are needed as is infrastructure to support community partners and researchers as they navigate financial arrangements if progress is to be made.

Leaving no one behind: unveiling gaps in inclusive architecture at the UIA World Congress of architects 2023

PurposeThis article aims to provide an insightful analysis of the UIA World Congress of Architects held in Copenhagen in 2023. The Congress adopted the aspirational motto “Leave no one behind,” prompting debates on how to realize this vision. Six major congress tracks centered on architecture's function in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each track focused on a particular design challenge: climate adaptation, circular design strategies, community resilience, public health, inclusive built environments and challenging power structures. There were 250 scholarly papers and pre-and-post-events for further debate on the tracks.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides an insightful overview of the major panels, analyzes the events' content and analyzes the efficiency of the final ten principles underlining the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, community participation and new design approaches in achieving the SDGs.FindingsOrganizing an inclusive global event is a multifaceted challenge, demanding a careful representation of diverse participants. The selection of an appropriate venue, effective exhibition curation and thoughtful scientific representation play pivotal roles. The exhibition successfully engaged a broad spectrum of attendees. While the structure of six distinct tracks focusing on climate adaptation, resource reevaluation, resilient communities, public health, inclusivity and partnership for change was commendable, an excess of parallel sessions impeded the potential for robust discussions. A more cohesive approach with integrated sessions and flexible timeframes could foster meaningful exchanges, aligning with the essence of the motto “Leave no one behind.” It is suggested to prioritize in-depth engagement over breadth, enabling profound dialogues among stakeholders in shaping the agenda for future congresses.Originality/valueThis paper offers originality through its analysis of the UIA 2023 Congress's major events spotlighting architecture's significance within the UN SDGs. Enriched by the author's active engagement and reflective insights from the event, this paper adds value to the academic dialogue surrounding architecture and sustainable development. Additionally, the insights garnered from this analysis can inform the planning of future congresses and the refinement of guiding principles.

Factors influencing the community participation approaches used in Aedes mosquito management in the Torres Strait, Australia

BackgroundAedes-borne disease risk is increasing in tropical and sub-tropical regions across the globe. While Aedes-borne disease continues to disproportionally affect low- and middle-income countries, parts of high-income countries, such as the Torres Strait region in Australia are also at risk. The Torres Strait is a group of islands located between Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland, Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Torres Strait has both Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti and is close to Papua New Guinea where dengue fever is endemic. Managing Aedes-borne disease risk requires a range of strategies, including community participation. Existing research shows that high-income countries tend to favour government-led (top-down) informing approaches when engaging communities in Aedes mosquito management. Little is known about the factors that influence the choice of community participation approaches in Aedes mosquito management particularly in a high-income country setting, such as Australia. This research contributes to filling this knowledge gap by exploring the community participation approaches used in Aedes mosquito management and the factors influencing these choices in the Torres Strait.Methods16 semi-structured interviews were conducted with local government and state government agencies working in Aedes mosquito management in the Torres Strait. Six key mosquito management plans and policies were also reviewed. Thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse and attribute meaning from the data collected.ResultsA range of community participation approaches were used within the two main Aedes mosquito management programs (Aedes albopictus Elimination Program and the Torres Strait Island Regional Council, Environmental Health Program) in the Torres Strait. These approaches included door-to-door inspections, awareness raising strategies, and community clean-up events. Approaches were chosen for reasons related to regulations, attitude and beliefs, and resourcing.ConclusionsThis study revealed the use of both top-down and bottom-up approaches to engaging the community in Aedes mosquito management in the Torres Strait. These findings contribute to a better understanding of why bottom-up approaches are used, which is valuable for shaping future policy decisions. This study also provides suggestions on ways to enhance community participation in the Torres Strait, which could also be considered in other similar tropical regions.

Description of the design of a mixed-methods study to assess the burden and determinants of malaria transmission for tailoring of interventions (microstratification) in Ibadan and Kano metropolis

BackgroundRapid urbanization in Nigerian cities may lead to localized variations in malaria transmission, particularly with a higher burden in informal settlements and slums. However, there is a lack of available data to quantify the variations in transmission risk at the city level and inform the selection of appropriate interventions. To bridge this gap, field studies will be undertaken in Ibadan and Kano, two major Nigerian cities. These studies will involve a blend of cross-sectional and longitudinal epidemiological research, coupled with longitudinal entomological studies. The primary objective is to gain insights into the variation of malaria risk at the smallest administrative units, known as wards, within these cities.Methods/resultsThe findings will contribute to the tailoring of interventions as part of Nigeria’s National Malaria Strategic Plan. The study design incorporates a combination of model-based clustering and on-site visits for ground-truthing, enabling the identification of environmental archetypes at the ward-level to establish the study’s framework. Furthermore, community participatory approaches will be utilized to refine study instruments and sampling strategies. The data gathered through cross-sectional and longitudinal studies will contribute to an enhanced understanding of malaria risk in the metropolises of Kano and Ibadan.ConclusionsThis paper outlines pioneering field study methods aimed at collecting data to inform the tailoring of malaria interventions in urban settings. The integration of multiple study types will provide valuable data for mapping malaria risk and comprehending the underlying determinants. Given the importance of location-specific data for microstratification, this study presents a systematic process and provides adaptable tools that can be employed in cities with limited data availability.

Lessons learned from community engagement and participation in fostering coexistence and minimizing human-wildlife conflict in Ghana

Human-wildlife-conflicts (HWCs) threaten wildlife conservation and livelihoods, particularly around biodiversity hotspots, such as Ghana's Bia Biosphere Reserve (BBR). Because wildlife raids farms or preys on livestock, such conflicts cause economic losses to farmers, psychological distress to communities, and social tensions between stakeholders, leading to retaliation—killing or injuring wildlife. Nonetheless, traditional approaches to HWC management, such as physical barriers, buffer zones, scare tactics, and non-lethal wildlife deterrents, are ineffective in addressing the problem. The study investigates HWCs in five communities through case studies involving focus groups, interviews, and on-site observations to understand the effects of wildlife-related incidents on these villages, how stakeholders accept and tolerate wildlife issues, and assess the effectiveness of the community engagement and participation (CEP) approach as a potential solution. The findings show that although CEP has the potential to mitigate HWCs and promote coexistence, the lack of involvement of communities substantially hinders the success of conservation efforts and addressing HWCs, which have substantial ecological, economic, social, and psychological impacts on communities near the BBR. Also, farmers' level of acceptance is substantially affected by the perceived economic benefits derived from the reserve. A crucial lesson learned is that involving communities in wildlife management can be more challenging and demands stakeholder cooperation and trust-building. The study recommends that the Ghana government consider (a) fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among communities by actively and meaningfully involving them in designing and implementing wildlife management and (b) implementing policies that prioritize creating alternative livelihood opportunities for communities living in the BBR area.

Psychologists as leaders in equitable science: Applications of antiracism and community participatory strategies in a pediatric behavioral medicine clinical trial.

Psychologists have an ethical responsibility to advance health equity and can play a significant role in improving health care experiences for families racialized as Black, including those with sickle cell disease (SCD), a group of genetic blood disorders primarily affecting communities of color. Parents of children with SCD report experiences of stigma and discrimination due to racism in the health care system. The current commentary describes the application of antiracism and participatory strategies to the research design, implementation, and dissemination of a behavioral medicine clinical trial (Engage-HU; NCT03442114) of shared decision-making (SDM) for pediatric patients with SCD, including (a) the development of a research question to promote justice for racialized groups; (b) a focus on "redressing imbalances" through SDM and a multidisciplinary, inclusive research team led by a Black psychologist; (c) community participatory approaches through the integration of stakeholder feedback across the study; and (d) centering context by attending to structural realities in response to the COVID-19 and racism pandemics. With attention to the fact that most primary caregivers of children with SCD are Black women, an intersectionality lens was applied. Implications and considerations for psychologists working to advance health equity in medical settings are also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The Effectiveness of Community Participation in Urban Water Supply: A Narrative Review

Debates on the effectiveness of top-down versus bottom-up approaches in water management in urban areas are still ongoing. This study examines the effectiveness of community participation as a bottom-up approach. The narrative review is employed to describe 16 cases of community participation. Three themes emerge from the case studies: the success story and failure of community participation from outside of Indonesia, lessons learned and best practices of community participation from Indonesia, and self-supply as an alternative water provision. Then a discussion of the findings based on the themes found in the literature was carried out. The study found that community participation would be successful if the participatory elements were satisfied, including sufficient capacity and knowledge of the community involved to ensure meaningful participation, involving local government in the education of how to manage and conserve water supply, and involving women in project sustainability. Hence, a pure community participation approach, particularly in disadvantaged urban areas, cannot be achieved. Therefore, a holistic approach combining a top-down and a bottom-up approach is recommended. Self-supply water provision emerged as another method that has largely been ignored by the government and academia but serves as a common practice, particularly in developing countries.

Environmental Conservation in Malaysian Local Government: Issues and Recommendation

The government of Malaysia is committed and receptive to environment conservation efforts. The study's explicit goals will now be as follows: a) Determine community participation techniques in environmental conservation programmes; b) Detect concerns and hindrances to community participation in environmental conservation programmes; and c) Suggest the most effectual community participation approaches in environmental conservation programmes. We spoke to eight main informants from three tiers of local governments. The observations were organised using NVivo. Community participation is hampered by a lack of enthusiasm and understanding, as well as a lack of workforce and finance. 9AN Keywords: Community participation, environmental conservation, local government, SDGs eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i20.3502

"Weaving a Mat That We Can All Sit On": Qualitative Research Approaches for Productive Dialogue in the Intercultural Space.

Research remains a site of struggle for First Nations peoples globally. Biomedical research often reinforces existing power structures, perpetuating ongoing colonisation by dominating research priorities, resource allocation, policies, and services. Addressing systemic health inequities requires decolonising methodologies to facilitate new understandings and approaches. These methodologies promote a creative tension and productive intercultural dialogue between First Nations and Western epistemologies. Concurrently, the potential of critical theory, social science, and community participatory action research approaches to effectively prioritise First Nations peoples’ lived experience within the biomedical worldview is increasingly recognised. This article describes learnings regarding research methods that enable a better understanding of the lived experience of rheumatic heart disease—an intractable, potent marker of health inequity for First Nations Australians, requiring long-term engagement in the troubled intersection between Indigenist and biomedical worldviews. Working with Yolŋu (Aboriginal) co-researchers from remote Northern Territory (Australia), the concept of ganma (turbulent co-mingling of salt and fresh water) was foundational for understanding and applying relationality (gurrutu), deep listening (nhina, nhäma ga ŋäma), and the use of metaphors—approaches that strengthen productive dialogue, described by Yolŋu co-researchers as weaving a ‘mat we can all sit on’. The research results are reported in a subsequent article.

Stylized Fact Approach to Income Distribution Pattern among Fish Seed Producers in Jharkhand, India

One of the serious impediments to sound policy on freshwater aquaculture is the lack of farm-level data and consistent empirical evidence, especially on income. To understand the income generation through fish seed production through the community participation approach initiative of the Directorate of fisheries, Jharkhand, we analyzed the income distribution pattern of 498 fish seed producers of Jharkhand. The data was collected from different districts of Jharkhand by DoF for the year 2017-18. The results revealed high gender disparity in fish seed production as only 2.41 per cent were found out to be women. It was observed that fish seed production has a high potential to be a very lucrative business as income showed wide variation ranging fromRs.50,000 to Rs.27,50,000. The Lorenz curve analysis showed moderate-income inequality indicating a higher concentration of income with the top 10 per cent of the population. Further investigation showed that the top 10 per cent of the population earned 60 per cent of total cumulative income which was higher than the national average which was 57 per cent while the bottom 50 per cent of the population earned just 20 per cent of total cumulative income. The income inequality from the GINI co-efficient was 0.48 which was lower than the national average which was 0.55. The study concludes that though income inequality is lower than the national average however the concentration of income with top 10 per cent was higher than the national average. A more detailed study on fish seed production is needed to understand the underlying facts for the disparity in income distribution among fish seed producers.

Data Desa Presisi: A new method of rural data collection

Pseudo-development in rural areas often occurs due to the lack of availability of accurate data, in addition to the closed space for citizen participation. Based on this condition, we identify and evaluate various methods of collecting rural data in Indonesia as the basis for formulating development policies and programs. From the results of the identification and evaluation, we conclude that a new method in rural data collection is needed, called Data Desa Presisi (DDP). DDP is a village data collection method that synthesizes a census, spatial and community participation approach. This method puts the unit of analysis of the family and the individual in the Neighborhood Association (Rukun Warga-RW) as the smallest regional unit in the rural area. The presence of DDP is expected to help villages to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate village development based on accurate data.•We identified the village data collection methods used so far for planning and measuring village development.•DDP is used for precise planning, implementation, monitoring-evaluation, and measurement of village development.•This method can be used as basic village data because it is able to show development subjects with precision, namely: by name, by address and by coordinates.

Using Collective Impact to Develop a Community-Led Initiative for Improving Black Infant Mortality.

The United States has one of the highest infant mortality rates among developed countries. When stratified by race, disparities are more evident: Black infant mortality rates are 2.5 times higher than non-Hispanic white infants. Structural, systemic racism is a contributing cause for these racial disparities. Multisector collaborations focused on a common agenda, often referred to as collective impact, have been used for infant mortality reduction interventions. In addition, community-based participatory approaches have been applied to incorporate those with lived experience related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This article critically describes the transition of an infant mortality collective impact initiative from being led by a multisector organizational group to being community led over a 5-year period, 2015-2020. A 34-member community leaders group was developed and determined four priorities and corresponding strategies for the initiative. Findings show that community participatory approaches are a way to address racial equity for public health initiatives.

Co-production of health: are communities being heard in local health planning in Portugal?

Abstract Background Health planning is an essential tool to address communities' health needs. Although recommended by portuguese national guidelines, Local Health Plans (LHP) lack adequate community participation, which could improve their implementation and contribute to achieve the SDG agenda and universal health coverage. The aim of this study is to assess the degree of community participation in LHP in Portugal. Methods Data was collected from 52 (out of 54) publicly available LHP in April 2021. Each document was reviewed by two independent researchers and analysed considering time frame, participatory approach, stage of the health planning cycle in which the community was involved and methods used to promote community participation. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results Although 52 LHP were available, only 37 were valid for 2020. Although community participation was mentioned in all PLH, most did not include a comprehensive community participation approach (88%). Community representatives were particularly involved in the prioritizing health problems stage of the health planning cycle (81%); no LHP mentioned the involvement of the community in the monitoring and evaluation stage. Methods used to promote community participation were clearly stated in 48% of LHP. Conclusions Community participation is a key strategy for successful implementation of LHP in Portugal. Most LHP show a clear concern to include community representatives when it comes to prioritizing health problems and highlight the importance of co-production of health between health services and the community, but fail to integrate community participation throughout the health planning cycle. Specific community fora could improve community participation and therefore better implementation of LHP. Key messages Most Local Health Plans in Portugal lack a comprehensive community participation approach. A community-centred approach should be prioritized in order to improve LHP implementation.