Multi-country collaborative citizen science projects to co-design cardiovascular disease prevention strategies and advocacy: findings from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, and South Africa

Okop, K. J. et al. (2023) Multi-country collaborative citizen science projects to co-design cardiovascular disease prevention strategies and advocacy: findings from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, and South Africa. BMC Public Health, 23, 2484. (doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17393-x)

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were responsible for 20.5 million annual deaths globally in 2021, with a disproportionally high burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is growing evidence of the use of citizen science and co-design approaches in developing interventions in different fields, but less so in the context of CVD prevention interventions in SSA. This paper reports on the collaborative multi-country project that employed citizen science and a co-design approach to (i) explore CVD risk perceptions, (ii) develop tailored prevention strategies, and (iii) support advocacy in different low-income settings in SSA. Methods: This is a participatory citizen science study with a co-design component. Data was collected from 205 participants aged 18 to 75 years in rural and urban communities in Malawi, Ethiopia and Rwanda, and urban South Africa. Fifty-one trained citizen scientists used a mobile app-based (EpiCollect) semi-structured survey questionnaire to collect data on CVD risk perceptions from participants purposively selected from two communities per country. Data collected per community included 100–150 photographs and 150–240 voice recordings on CVD risk perceptions, communication and health-seeking intentions. Thematic and comparative analysis were undertaken with the citizen scientists and the results were used to support citizen scientists-led stakeholder advocacy workshops. Findings are presented using bubble graphs based on weighted proportions of key risk factors indicated. Results: Nearly three in every five of the participants interviewed reported having a relative with CVD. The main perceived causes of CVD in all communities were substance use, food-related factors, and litter, followed by physical inactivity, emotional factors, poverty, crime, and violence. The perceived positive factors for cardiovascular health were nutrition, physical activity, green space, and clean/peaceful communities. Multi-level stakeholders (45–84 persons/country) including key decision makers participated in advocacy workshops and supported the identification and prioritization of community-specific CVD prevention strategies and implementation actions. Citizen science-informed CVD risk screening and referral to care interventions were piloted in six communities in three countries with about 4795 adults screened and those at risk referred for care. Health sector stakeholders indicated their support for utilising a citizen-engaged approach in national NCDs prevention programmes. The citizen scientists were excited by the opportunity to lead research and advocacy. Conclusion: The collaborative engagement, participatory learning, and co-designing activities enhanced active engagement between citizen scientists, researchers, and stakeholders. This, in turn, provided context-specific insights on CVD prevention in the different SSA settings.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding for the larger study (CEBHA+) for which this study is part of was obtained from the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) – the funding number is 66.3010.7-002.12.
• Keywords: Citizen Science, community-based, co-design, cardiovascular disease, prevention strategies, advocacy, participatory, sub-Saharan Africa.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bunn, Dr Christopher and Crampin, Professor Mia
• Authors: Okop, K. J., Kedir, K., Kasenda, S., Niyibizi, J. B., Chipeta, E., Getachew, H., Sell, K., Lambert, E. V., Puoane, T., Rulisa, S., King, A. C., Bavuma, C., Bunn, C., Howe, R., Crampin, M., and Levitt, N. S.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General); R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: BMC Public Health
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 1471-2458
• ISSN (Online): 1471-2458
• Published Online: 12 December 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2023
• First Published: First published in BMC Public Health 23:2484
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license