Perspectives Of Community Members Research Articles

Resident Perspectives on a Pre-booking Diversion Program

Numerous cities are experimenting with pre-booking diversion programs that allow police officers to divert community members to supportive services in instances that would otherwise result in arrest and prosecution. These programs aim to decrease harmful involvement with the criminal justice system while reducing crime and public disorder. Although previous research has explored the experiences of people receiving diversion referrals and of police officers initiating them, none have examined the perspectives of community members who can offer crucial insights into planning, evaluation, and implementation barriers. We administered a survey to 293 people living in four police districts where the Philadelphia Police Department operates a pre-booking diversion program. The survey explored residents’ perspectives on the program as well as their broader views on associated issues like decriminalization of substance use, sex work, and minor theft. Bivariate χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression examined differences in responses between subgroups. Perspectives were diverse and varied based on demographic attributes of the respondents as well as on district-level attributes, like crime patterns. Most surveyed community members perceived pre-booking diversion to be a valuable tool for improving the experiences and outcomes of policing. However, residents living in areas with more crime and with more public disorder held significantly less positive perspectives. Their skepticism may reflect the possibility that pre-booking diversion and similar reforms are necessary but not sufficient to transforming individual health and public safety in some areas.

Towards human-centred standards for legal help AI.

As more groups consider how AI may be used in the legal sector, this paper envisions how companies and policymakers can prioritize the perspective of community members as they design AI and policies around it. It presents findings of structured interviews and design sessions with community members, in which they were asked about whether, how, and why they would use AI tools powered by large language models to respond to legal problems like receiving an eviction notice. The respondents reviewed options for simple versus complex interfaces for AI tools, and expressed how they would want to engage with an AI tool to resolve a legal problem. These empirical findings provide directions that can counterbalance legal domain experts' proposals about the public interest around AI, as expressed by attorneys, court officials, advocates and regulators. By hearing directly from community members about how they want to use AI for civil justice tasks, what risks concern them, and the value they would find in different kinds of AI tools, this research can ensure that people's points of view are understood and prioritized, rather than only domain experts' assertions about people's needs and preferences around legal help AI. This article is part of the theme issue 'A complexity science approach to law and governance'.

Perspectives of community members on community-based participatory research: A systematic literature review

ABSTRACT Anchor institutions are a part of a complex urban governance regime influencing policy, investment and programming in urban neighborhoods. Anchor land-grant educational institutions are questioning their role in conducting impactful research in and with the community. We find growing evidence of interest in community-based participatory research (CBPR) by universities and funders. Utilizing a systematic literature review we analyze peer-reviewed scholarship on CBPR. While the number of CBPR publications has been on the rise since 2005 and the term CBPR among others is used most frequently across the fields, the trend in the social sciences is lagging. About half of the CBPR literature provides community perspectives, and less than a third was coauthored with community partners. We find community perspectives and voices are more limited in the social sciences. We attribute this phenomenon to funding limitations and the potential for bias in the peer-review process of relevant journals.

Looking Inward, Looking Forward: Articulating Alternatives to the Current Education System for Adivasis, by Adivasis

This article explores the conceptualisation of alternative education based on the lived realities of marginalised indigenous communities. By amplifying the voices of the Bettakurumba, Kattunayakan, Mullakurumba and Paniya communities, the article explores their vision for an alternative education system that promotes equality and justice, and the implications of such an alternative to the larger discourses on alternative education. The study foregrounds the lived experiences and perspectives of community members, utilising qualitative data gathered from focus group discussions and workshops involving 165 participants. The participants demand for an education that enables their children to navigate both their traditional environments and the modern world, fostering knowledge, dignity, character and contentment. Recognising that schools alone are inadequate, the article suggests reclaiming the village as a learning space and strengthening leadership within these communities. Furthermore, it outlines specific educational practices that can facilitate the development of a culturally relevant education system for Adivasi children.

Subaltern perspectives of developing communication campaigns: Re-examining the culture-centered approach in addressing health disparities

ABSTRACT A central component of the culture-centered approach is the co-development of communication infrastructures for health and wellbeing within subaltern communities. However, there is an absence in the representation of these infrastructures in esteemed journals. This is problematic for illuminating the tensions and complexities in bringing theory into practice from the perspective of community members. This study draws from two culture-centered projects to explore how communities make sense of the process of participating in building interventions, comprising 119 initial in-depth interviews with residents, 10 community advisory board focus groups, and 21 evaluative interviews. The residents’ narratives reveal a relationship between subalternity and distrust toward interventions delivered by providers outside of their community, emphasizing the need to create spaces of listening that anchor community relationships. The formation of relationships was crucial to the development of communication infrastructures, which continued beyond the study. The contributions to intercultural and international communication are discussed.

“The needle is already ready to go”: communities’ and health care professionals’ perceptions of routine vaccination in Nunavik, Canada

ABSTRACT Inuit living in the northern region of Nunavik continue to experience significant health inequalities, which are rooted in colonialism that still have repercussions on their health-related perceptions and practices, including vaccination. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and determinants of routine vaccination among the Inuit of Nunavik by describing factors influencing vaccination decisions from the perspective of community members and health professionals. Semi-structured interviews focusing on the perception of vaccination and experience with vaccination and health services were conducted with 18 Inuit and 11 non-Inuit health professionals. Using the socio-ecological model, factors acting at the community and public policy (e.g. rumours and misinformation about vaccination, language barrier), organisational (e.g. complexity of the vaccination process, staff turnover, lack of specialised vaccination workers and interpreters), and intrapersonal and interpersonal (e.g. past experiences with vaccination, vaccine attitudes, social norms) levels were identified as having an impact on vaccination decisions. Improving vaccination coverage in Nunavik requires a more global reflection on how to improve and culturally adapt the health care and services offered to the Inuit population.

Health Resource Gaps in Primary Health Care Facilities: Community Members’ Perspectives in the Era of Universal Health Coverage in Lawra Municipality, Ghana

Background. Health resources are key determinants of healthcare coverage. Community members who utilise healthcare have significant insights into the availability of health resources in providing healthcare. Aim. This study sought to explore community (health committee) members’ perspectives on health resource gaps in lower-level health facilities in the municipality. Methods. The qualitative descriptive study explored the perspectives of community members who served on the health committee. Thirty-four community health committee members at community-based health planning and services (CHPS) compounds, maternity-unit CHPS, and health centres were studied. Results. The study found three high-level categories of resource gaps deemed relevant to community members—infrastructural gaps, equipment gaps, and safety-quality gaps. Conclusion and Recommendation. There are perceived gaps in health resources from the community members’ perspective. It is recommended that the Lawra Municipal Health Directorate and other health directorates with similar health resource challenges take steps to fill health resource gaps to ensure universal health coverage.

The CPT1A Arctic variant: perspectives of community members and providers in two Alaska tribal health settings.

Newborn screening in Alaska includes screening for carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) deficiency. The CPT1A Arctic variant is a variant highly prevalent among Indigenous peoples in the Arctic. In this study, we sought to elicit Alaska Native (AN) community member and AN-serving healthcare providers' knowledge and perspectives on the CPT1A Arctic variant. Focus groups with community members and healthcare providers were held in two regions of Alaska between October 2018 and January 2019. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring constructs. Knowledge and understanding about the CPT1A Arctic variant and its health impact varied, and participants were interested in learning more about it. Additional education for healthcare professionals was recommended to improve providers' ability to communicate with family caregivers about the Arctic variant. Engagement with AN community members identified opportunities to improve educational outreach via multiple modalities for providers and caregivers on the Arctic variant, which could help to increase culturally relevant guidance and avoid stigmatization, undue worry, and unnecessary intervention. Education and guidance on the care of infants and children homozygous for the CPT1A Arctic variant could improve care and reduce negative psychosocial effects.

Exploring the perspectives of community members on use of Nyaope in Tshwane, South Africa

Background: Substance use is a major public health issue in South Africa. Cocktails, containing two or more low-quality substances, have been reported. Nyaope is one of the most popular and is widely available. It has a significant impact on users and communities. The aim of this study was to explore community members’ perceptions of the potential contributors to Nyaope use and dependency.Methods: This was an exploratory descriptive qualitative study that conducted three focus group interviews with 29 community members. A maximum variation sample was used. Data were analysed using the framework method, assisted by Atlas-ti.Results: Seven main themes were identified, namely unfavourable home environments, distrust between community members and the local police, easy access to Nyaope at school, inadequate social services, lack of religious or spiritual drive, unfavourable community environments and the effects of Nyaope on users.Conclusion: The factors identified, were used to construct an emerging model of how Nyaope use is driven in Tshwane. It is clear that a multisectoral response is required involving health and social services, basic education, policing and community leadership. Further research will explore the views of family members and users and quantify the importance of the factors identified.Contribution: This study showed that rather than a simple linear chain of events, Nyaope use is enabled by a complex system of interconnected elements. According to the respondents, variables in the community at large, the school, the home and the specific user all have a role in Nyaope usage and dependency.

The Perspective of Community Members in the Assessment of the Social Value Generated by Non-profit and Voluntary Organizations

This study aimed at developing a scale to measure Social Added Value (SAV) according to the perspective of community members, building on the relational framework and complementing the work of Mannarini et al. (Voluntas: Int J Voluntary Nonprofit Organ 29(6):1315–1329, 2018). The study was conducted on 720 Italian citizens who were not directly involved in Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations (NPVOs) as active members to examine the statistical validity and psychometric properties of the SAV scale. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that good and satisfactory fit indexes were obtained by a third-order factor model saturated by two second-order variables (contribution to community and quality of external relationships) and eight first-order variables (services and tasks, vision, social responsibility, control mutuality, communality relationship, trust, commitment, capacity to build community connections). Additional analyses revealed that both perceived NPVOs target values and sense of belonging to the community were positively associated with SAV. Theoretical, methodological and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Knowledge and perspectives of community members on risk assessment for stroke prevention using mobile health approaches in Nigeria

ObjectivesTo assess the knowledge of community dwelling adults on stroke risk and their willingness to use mobile health (mHealth) technology in assessing their stroke risk. Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among adults (≥18 years old) using survey questionnaires designed by neurologists and health promotion experts and administered by trained study staff. Logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with receptivity toward knowing individual stroke risk score and willingness to use a mobile application (App) to assess stroke risk. ResultsThe survey was administered to 486 participants in Nigeria, with a mean age of 47.4 ± 15.5 years, comprising 53.5% females. Up to 84% of participants wanted to know their risk for developing stroke but only 29.6% of respondents had ever previously had their stroke risk assessed. Factors associated with willingness to know stroke risk were age [aOR (95% CI): 0.97 (0.95 – 0.99)], and Hausa tribe [16.68 (2.16 – 128.92)]. Up to 66% of participants wanted to know their immediate risk of stroke, compared with 6.6% and 2.1% who wanted to know their 5-year or 10-year future stroke risks respectively. Regarding locations, participants preferred stroke risk assessment to be performed at a health facility, at home by health professional, on their own using mHealth (stroke risk calculator application), or at communal gatherings (decreasing order). About 70% specifically wished to learn about their stroke risk via an mHealth application. ConclusionsCommunity dwelling Nigerians wanted to know their immediate risk of stroke using digital platforms, such as a mobile phone stroke risk calculator application. Clinical trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of such a strategy for primary prevention of stroke in sub-Saharan African communities.

Aggregated mental models predict observed outcomes following Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction

Outcome prediction is important for conservation; however, analysis may be hampered by specialist resource deficiencies. Mental modelling techniques offer a potential solution, drawing on accessible sources of knowledge held informally by local stakeholders. Mental models show linked social and ecological variables from the perspectives of community members, whose insights may otherwise be neglected. Currently, an important weakness in conservation mental modelling is inadequate attention paid to real-time model predictive validity. To address this knowledge gap, baseline mental model predictions concerning Beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction in Southwest England were followed up at three years. Participants were invited to submit outcome observations for concept variables identified in their original models, blind to inferences based on model dynamic analysis, so that the two sets of data could be compared. Individual concept values and models were found to show weak and highly inconsistent predictive validity, however, multi-stakeholder aggregated mental models showed consistently strong predictive performance. This finding was enhanced by setting tighter thresholds for inclusion of individual model items in aggregation procedures. Threshold effects can be interpreted as a reflection of greater agreement: tighter thresholds retain more highly shared model components. It is proposed that enhanced real-time predictive validity for aggregated models is explained by a ‘wisdom of the crowd’ statistical effect, analogous to well-recognised crowd judgement effects observed in relation to much simpler questions. The findings show the scope for stakeholder mental modelling methods as an investigative tool, to supplement more conventional ecosystem assessments in predicting data-poor conservation outcomes.

Our Home Is Native Land: Teachings, Perspectives, and Experiences of Indigenous Houselessness

Indigenous Peoples are the fastest growing and youngest populations in Canada, yet face persistent housing crises across both urban and reserve settings. While Indigenous Peoples often move to cities in search of employment and education, they are overrepresented among the homeless population. This article, summarizing results from the author’s doctoral dissertation, provides a review of housing transitions needs and barriers from the experiences and perspectives of 13 Indigenous Elders/traditional knowledge keepers and youth, employing a narrative inquiry methodology and traditional knowledges interpretive framework. The intersection of Indigenous culture, community, housing transition, supports, and barriers is presented, highlighting the narrative voices, experiences, and perspectives of community members and Elders. Implications for service providers, policy, and future directions are included in this work.

Community resilience and continuous challenges: A qualitative analysis of the functioning of communities in the aftermath of persistent and ordinary stressors.

The study aimed at investigating the functioning of communities in the aftermath of continuous challenges and identifying standards for describing resilient paths based on the perspective of community members. A qualitative investigation was carried out in 11 territorial communities of Salento, in southern Italy. Fifty-twokey informants were interviewed and interview transcripts were submitted to thematic content analysis through Atlas.Ti. Overall, the interviewees reported that their communities suffer from a varied set of complex and interrelated adverse circumstances that have increased their vulnerability. The respondents have a clear idea about the community strengths and weaknesses that either allow or impede adaptive responses, though they did not understand the latter in separation from the slow-onset events that have contributed to causing them. On the basis of findings, resilient paths facing continuous challenges can be described as trajectories of functioning allowing the communities to survive and progress through adaptive and maladaptive responses.

Whose Information? What Knowledge? Collaborative Work and a Plea for Referenced Collection Databases

In this article, I attempt to trace and reflect on how and what knowledge emerged when I discussed historical artifacts with members of the community of origin. The information coming up during our collaborative work sessions does not easily fit into existing standard categories of collection databases. Rather than issues such as protagonists, dates, locations, etc. of photo shoots, or materials, methods of production and uses, etc. of objects, our conversations were about relations between people, life circumstances, uncertainties, legitimate informants, and social meanings. The emergent knowledge, as I argue, did not simply reflect different concerns or perspectives of community members as compared to those of scholars and provided for in database fields but was co-produced from all participants’ prior knowledges through concerted doings. Without presenting a ready-made solution, I further argue that we need to find ways of accommodating references into our collection databases revealing authors and ways of knowledge production.

Community conversations on independent living: understanding the perspectives and support needs of persons with disabilities living in the southeast United States

Purpose The pursuit of independent living outcomes has been a longstanding emphasis of disability policy, practice, and research. Yet the ways in which the experience of independent living is understood and advanced locally warrants more focused attention. This article describes a collaboration among a regional Center for Independent Living (CIL) and university researchers focused on developing more informed programs and supports to promote independent living for persons with disabilities in their service area. Method A total of 75 adults with disabilities attended four “community conversations” during which they provided diverse definitions of independent living and shared a wide range of supports they needed and currently accessed to meet their independent living goals. Results Attendee conversations generated 14 unique dimensions of independent living and 11 categories of independent living supports. Findings align with existing research asserting independent living as a multifaceted construct and extend the literature to include perspectives across a wider range of disability categories. Conclusion This study suggests that collaborations among Centers for Independent Living and researchers can be a fruitful context for conducting “needs assessments” and soliciting the perspectives of individuals with disabilities on (a) how they conceptualize independent living and (b) the local services and supports they need to attain their independent living goals. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Community conversations are an efficient and engaging way of soliciting the perspectives of community members with a variety of disabilities. Establishing a planning team fluent in universal design, accessibility options, and local needs is critical to implementing effective community conversations. For Centers for Independent Living (CILs), community conversations offer a valuable approach for obtaining substantive stakeholder input to inform strategic planning. CILS could play an active role in equipping transition-age students with the skills, knowledge, relationships, and linkages needed to attain their independent living goals in early adulthood.

A Guideline for Contextual Adaptation of Community-Based Health Interventions.

In Southeast Asia, community-based health interventions (CBHIs) are often used to target non-communicable diseases (NCDs). CBHIs that are tailored to sociocultural aspects of health and well-being: local language, religion, customs, traditions, individual preferences, needs, values, and interests, may promote health more effectively than when no attention is paid to these aspects. In this study, we aimed to develop a guideline for the contextual adaption of CBHIs. We developed the guideline in two stages: first, a checklist for contextual and cultural adaptation; and second, a guideline for adaptation. We performed participatory action research, and used the ‘Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation (AGREE) II’ tool as methodological basis to develop the guideline. We conducted a narrative literature review, using a conceptual framework based on the six dimensions of ‘Positive Health’ and its determining contexts to theoretically underpin a checklist. we pilot tested a draft version of the guideline and included a total of 29 stakeholders in five informal meetings, two stakeholder meetings, and an expert review meeting. This yielded a guideline, addressing three phases: the preparation phase, the assessment phase, and the adoption phase, with integrated checklists comprising 34 cultural and contextual aspects for the adaption of CBHIs based on general health directives or health models. The guideline provides insight into how CBHIs can be tailored to the health perspectives of community members, and into the context in which the intervention is implemented. This tool can help to effect behavioral change, and improve the prevention and management of NCDs.

A Scoping Review of Citizen Science Approaches in Chronic Disease Prevention.

BackgroundCitizen science approaches, which involve members of the public as active collaborators in scientific research, are increasingly being recognized for their potential benefits in chronic disease prevention. However, understanding the potential applicability, feasibility and impacts of these approaches is necessary if they are to be more widely used. This study aimed to synthesize research that has applied and evaluated citizen science approaches in chronic disease prevention and identify key questions, gaps, and opportunities to inform future work in this field.MethodsWe searched six databases (Scopus, Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed, and CINAHL) in January 2022 to identify articles on the use of citizen science in prevention. We extracted and synthesized data on key characteristics of citizen science projects, including topics, aims and level of involvement of citizen scientists, as well as methods and findings of evaluations of these projects.ResultsEighty-one articles reported on citizen science across a variety of health issues, predominantly physical activity and/or nutrition. Projects primarily aimed to identify problems from the perspective of community members; generate and prioritize solutions; develop, test or evaluate interventions; or build community capacity. Most projects were small-scale, and few were co-produced with policy or practice stakeholders. While around half of projects included an evaluation component, overall, there was a lack of robust, in-depth evaluations of the processes and impacts of citizen science projects.ConclusionsCitizen science approaches are increasingly being used in chronic disease prevention to identify and prioritize community-focused solutions, mobilize support and advocacy, and empower communities to take action to support their health and wellbeing. However, to realize the potential of this approach more attention needs to be paid to demonstrating the feasibility of using citizen science approaches at scale, and to rigorous evaluation of impacts from using these approaches for the diverse stakeholders involved.

‘Research is like English as a second dialect’: community members’ perspectives of promising practices for physical activity-focused community-based participatory research

ABSTRACT Participatory approaches, such as community-based participatory research (CBPR), have become more common in the physical activity literature over the last two decades. As well, there has been an increase in the number of published studies that have documented the use of such approaches when engaging in research with Indigenous peoples. However, published studies tend to focus on the results of research, and the processes of how to successfully engage in such research are rarely described. Drawing upon the expertise of Indigenous community members, the purpose of this study was to identify promising practices for engaging in physical activity-focused CBPR in northern Indigenous communities in Canada. Eight community members who were part of a larger CBPR project engaged in one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim; content analysis was employed to analyse transcripts. The perspectives of community members are represented by five themes: (a) foundational understanding of colonialism, (b) ‘research is like English as a second dialect’, (c) build purposeful relationships, (d) efficiency with local leadership, and (e) need for consistency. Community members shared examples of shortcomings and success stories related to the ways in which they have been involved in research, and subsequently highlighted specific suggestions and promising practices for physical activity-focused CBPR. The experiences of community members must be heard and understood to ensure CBPR projects are respectful and relevant.

It is Divine Punishment for our sins”: Knowledge and Perception of the Cause, Symptoms, and Mode of Transmission of the COVID-19 Disease Among Local Traders in Nigeria

Background: Access to correct information can influence the formation of the right attitude towards mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Many individuals in Nigeria have taken up non-scientifically approved practices in a bid to protect themselves from the virus. The aim of this study was to assess the source of information, and knowledge of cause and mode of transmission of the COIVD-19 disease among local traders in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study of local traders from two densely populated markets in Ibadan was conducted using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 and Microsoft Excel 2016, and were presented in frequency tables and charts. Chi-square test was used to test for association. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 321 traders; 27.4% of which were males and 72.6% females were recruited into the study. Mean age was 39.4±11.8 years, radio (93.5%) and television (75.7%) were the most commonly used sources of information, 65.8% believed COVID-19 was a result of divine punishment for sins, majority (95.3%) reported that COVID-19 was spread through personal contact with infected persons. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of cause and age (p=0.004), as well as between knowledge of cause and marital status (p=0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant association was observed between knowledge of transmission and level of education (p=0.012). Conclusion: Even though they have access to adequate information, people may not take proper actions to protect themselves and others from contracting the COVID-19 disease. Reinforced health promotion strategies that pay attention to the local contexts and perspectives of community members should be taken across board.