Community engagement: health research through informing, consultation, involving and empowerment in Ingwavuma community

IntroductionThe goal of community involvement in health research is to improve a community’s ability to address its own health needs while ensuring that researchers understand and consider the community’s priorities. Recent data show that socio-economic and environmental challenges continue to be a barrier to informing, consulting, involving and empowering communities in community-based health research beneficial to them. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which the Ingwavuma community in KwaZulu-Natal Province, in rural South Africa, was informed, consulted, involved and empowered about two research projects conducted between 2014 and 2021.MethodsThe study used the modified random-route procedure to administer a standardized questionnaire to 339 household heads selected randomly. The questionnaires were administered face-to-face. The sample size was estimated using the Yamane sample size generating formula. Chi-square tests were performed to assess associations between demographic variables (age, gender, education, village) and respondents’ knowledge and information of the projects, Malaria and Bilharzia in Southern Africa and Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa as well as their participation.ResultsThe communities were generally well-informed about the health projects that were being carried out. Fewer than half of those who had heard about the projects had directly participated in them. The majority had been tested for one or more diseases and conditions, mostly high blood pressure, diabetes, and schistosomiasis, and had participated in a community feedback group; many had given their children’s permission to be tested for schistosomiasis or to participate in project research activities. Others participated in public awareness campaigns and surveys. There was some evidence of a consultation process in the form of public consultation discussed in the projects, and not much discussion on empowerment.DiscussionThe findings demonstrate that researchers’ CE approach was adaptable as communities were largely educated, involved, and subsequently empowered though without much consultation and that researchers had provided a space for sharing responsibilities in all engagement process decision-making. For the empowerment of the community, projects should take into account the intrapersonal and personal aspects affecting the community’s capacity to effectively benefit from the information, consultation, involvement, and empowerment procedures

Risky sexual behaviours of students : a case study of students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.

Master of Social Science in Development Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2017.This dissertation investigates risky sexual behaviours of university students, with particular reference to students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Howard College and Westville campuses. The research approach used was predominantly qualitative where data collection was mainly through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). Interviews were conducted with 20 students. 10 participants were from Howard College campus and another 10 participants were from Westville campus. FGDs were administered to two groups which consisted of approximately four to six students in each campus. According to the literature, there are numerous studies on the prevalence of risky sexual behaviours, however, the reasons why people engage in risky sexual behaviours was not well explored. Therefore, there was a need for conducting this particular study which aimed to shed insights into risky sexual behaviours of university students. This study also explored perceptions of HIV risks and other factors that motivated students to engage in risky sexual behaviours as well as examined the possible opportunities and constraints for changing risky sexual activities. This study was guided by the model of unsafe sexual behaviour designed by Eaton, Flisher and Aaro (2002) which is used widely to explain risky sexual behaviours in the context of HIV/AIDS. It identifies three factors that influence behaviour including the personal, proximal and distal context. The findings revealed that as much as the students were aware of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention methods, they were still those who engaged in risky sexual behaviours, including having multiple sexual partners, engaging in sexual intercourse without the use of condoms, intergenerational relationships, sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol and transactional sex. Furthermore, the study indicates that socio-economic challenges, peer pressure, and lack of communication through educational campaigns and programmes are the main factors which hinder university students from changing their sexual behaviours. Therefore, the study recommends that there should be more research conducted on students’ risky sexual behaviours, in order to collect more relevant information, which will assist policy makers, government, and other stakeholders to create a coordinated effort in addressing risky sexual behaviour of university students

If not now, when? Time for the European Union to define a global health strategy

Speakman, E. M., McKee, M., & Coker, R. (2017). If not now, when? Time for the European Union to define a global health strategy. Lancet Global Health, 5(4), e392-e393. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X%2817%2930085-

Community engagement processes in low- and middle-income countries health research settings: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract Background Community Engagement is an important ethical imperative in research. Although substantial research emphasizes its real value and strategic importance, much of the available literature focuses primarily on the success of community participation, with little emphasis given to specific community engagement processes, mechanisms and strategies in relation to intended outcomes in research environments. The systematic literature review’s objective was to explore the nature of community engagement processes, strategies and approaches in health research settings in low- and middle-income countries. Methods The systematic literature review design was informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched for peer-reviewed, English-language literature published between January 2011 and December 2021 through three databases on the internet (PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar). The terms "community engagement," "community involvement," "participation," "research settings," and "low- and middle-income countries" were merged in the search. Results The majority of publications [8/10] were led by authors from low- and middle-income countries, with many of them, [9/10] failing to continuously include important aspects of study quality. Even though consultation and information sessions were less participatory, articles were most likely to describe community engagement in these types of events. The articles covered a wide range of health issues, but the majority were concerned with infectious diseases such as malaria, human immunodeficiency virus, and tuberculosis, followed by studies on the environment and broader health factors. Articles were largely under-theorized. Conclusions Despite the lack of theoretical underpinnings for various community engagement processes, strategies and approaches, community engagement in research settings was variable. Future studies should go deeper into community engagement theory, acknowledge the power dynamics underpin community engagement, and be more practical about the extent to which communities may participate

Executive functions in understanding certain disabilities within an African context

Cognitive and social functioning are important aspects of the development of all children. In the transition from one stage of development to another, children are expected to master related skills. There is sufficient literature depicting that children with learning disabilities often experience challenges in a range of executive functions, which are necessary for the successful negotiation of their educational and life-related tasks. As a result, they may require appropriate intervention measures to enable them to address possible limitations. This paper examines the cognitive and social skills deficits that impact on the planning and decision-making outcomes of children with disabilities, using an Afrocentric approach. The Afrocentric paradigm is central in studying and understanding African experiences from an African perspective. Afrocentricity is used as an alternative knowledge system, which places the needs of Africans at the center of focus. In contrast to Eurocentric tendencies, the holistic being, in the African context, is understood and constituted as body, mind, and spirit. While there is sufficient Western literature acknowledging similar holistic views, and biopsychosocial and spiritual dimensions, this paper points out on the lack of emphasis on the latter dimension. The paper concludes that without providing relevant interventions on learner executive functions, the impairment of cognitive and social functioning is likely to continue