Drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural Cambodia

<p>Background: Countries in Southeast Asia are working to eliminate multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria, a major cause of mortality in tropical regions. Malaria is declining but transmission persists in many rural areas and among forest workers and isolated populations. In these remote comm...

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Үндсэн зохиолчид: Lim, R, Tripura, R, Peto, T, Sareth, M, Nou, S, Davoeung, C, Chea, N, Cheah, P
Формат: Journal article
Хэвлэсэн: F1000Research 2017
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author Lim, R
Tripura, R
Peto, T
Sareth, M
Nou, S
Davoeung, C
Chea, N
Cheah, P
author_facet Lim, R
Tripura, R
Peto, T
Sareth, M
Nou, S
Davoeung, C
Chea, N
Cheah, P
author_sort Lim, R
collection OXFORD
description <p>Background: Countries in Southeast Asia are working to eliminate multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria, a major cause of mortality in tropical regions. Malaria is declining but transmission persists in many rural areas and among forest workers and isolated populations. In these remote communities, conventional health services and education are limited. Mobilising and educating these populations require new approaches as many people are illiterate and do not attend village meetings. This article describes a qualitative study to assess the feasibility of a drama project as a community engagement strategy.</p><p> Methods: A drama project was conducted in twenty villages in Cambodia with three key messages: to use insecticide-treated bednets and repellents, to get early diagnosis and treatment, and to learn about risks of forest-acquired malaria. Qualitative interviews were conducted with the drama team members, village malaria workers, local health staffs and villagers, to explore the feasibility of using drama to engage the community and the associated challenges.</p><p> Results: 29 people were interviewed, which included 18 semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussion. Analysis of the interviews resulted in development of the following seven themes: i) exposure to malaria and engagement activities, ii) readiness and barriers to participation, iii) understanding and learning about malaria using drama, iv) entertainment value and engagement method preferences, v) challenges to community engagement, vi) future participation and vii) sustainability. The event saw a very positive response, with an encouraging average participation rate of 66%. The project faced several challenges including logistic problems, rescheduling due to raining season, and time- and budget-constraints.</p><p> Conclusions: Our evaluation demonstrated that the drama project was feasible in promoting awareness and understanding of malaria prevention and control. Audience members perceived drama as entertaining and as the preferred choice of engagement activity. Participatory drama could be considered as part of the community engagement for malaria elimination.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:290ee603-db6e-4d71-bc4e-ff3de4f3815a2022-03-26T12:16:45ZDrama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural CambodiaJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:290ee603-db6e-4d71-bc4e-ff3de4f3815aSymplectic Elements at OxfordF1000Research2017Lim, RTripura, RPeto, TSareth, MNou, SDavoeung, CChea, NCheah, P<p>Background: Countries in Southeast Asia are working to eliminate multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria, a major cause of mortality in tropical regions. Malaria is declining but transmission persists in many rural areas and among forest workers and isolated populations. In these remote communities, conventional health services and education are limited. Mobilising and educating these populations require new approaches as many people are illiterate and do not attend village meetings. This article describes a qualitative study to assess the feasibility of a drama project as a community engagement strategy.</p><p> Methods: A drama project was conducted in twenty villages in Cambodia with three key messages: to use insecticide-treated bednets and repellents, to get early diagnosis and treatment, and to learn about risks of forest-acquired malaria. Qualitative interviews were conducted with the drama team members, village malaria workers, local health staffs and villagers, to explore the feasibility of using drama to engage the community and the associated challenges.</p><p> Results: 29 people were interviewed, which included 18 semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussion. Analysis of the interviews resulted in development of the following seven themes: i) exposure to malaria and engagement activities, ii) readiness and barriers to participation, iii) understanding and learning about malaria using drama, iv) entertainment value and engagement method preferences, v) challenges to community engagement, vi) future participation and vii) sustainability. The event saw a very positive response, with an encouraging average participation rate of 66%. The project faced several challenges including logistic problems, rescheduling due to raining season, and time- and budget-constraints.</p><p> Conclusions: Our evaluation demonstrated that the drama project was feasible in promoting awareness and understanding of malaria prevention and control. Audience members perceived drama as entertaining and as the preferred choice of engagement activity. Participatory drama could be considered as part of the community engagement for malaria elimination.</p>
spellingShingle Lim, R
Tripura, R
Peto, T
Sareth, M
Nou, S
Davoeung, C
Chea, N
Cheah, P
Drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural Cambodia
title Drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural Cambodia
title_full Drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural Cambodia
title_fullStr Drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural Cambodia
title_full_unstemmed Drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural Cambodia
title_short Drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural Cambodia
title_sort drama as a community engagement strategy for malaria in rural cambodia
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AT nous dramaasacommunityengagementstrategyformalariainruralcambodia
AT davoeungc dramaasacommunityengagementstrategyformalariainruralcambodia
AT chean dramaasacommunityengagementstrategyformalariainruralcambodia
AT cheahp dramaasacommunityengagementstrategyformalariainruralcambodia