Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, USA.
Community Leader, Manuel A. Pérez Public Housing, Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Nov 9;15(11):2505. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15112505.
In this study, we use community-based participatory processes to engage community and academic partners in a meaningful exchange to identify and pilot test risk communication strategies for Zika virus prevention and control. Community members were actively involved in planning, developing, and implementing a risk communication initiative. Qualitative and quantitative data gathered through individual interviews, focus groups, and community advisory board input provided information for the identification of relevant risk communication strategies to increase the understanding about Zika virus and to promote behavior change. To examine its impact we obtained baseline and follow-up data from a random sample of 75 community residents. A face-to-face interview was conducted to assess community members' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding Zika virus infection. Study activities focused on three risk communication strategies: Zika awareness health fair, health education through theater, and community forums and workshops. The risk communication initiative was implemented over a two-month period. Findings from baseline and follow-up data demonstrated significant positive changes in respondents' recognition of personal and community responsibility for the prevention of Zika infection, increased knowledge of prevention strategies, and enhanced engagement in preventive behaviors for mosquito control. Our findings sustain the benefits of community based participatory research for the design and implementation of risk communication strategies that are relevant to enable residents in low-income communities to take informed decisions for the protection against Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.
在这项研究中，我们采用基于社区的参与式流程，让社区和学术合作伙伴进行有意义的交流，以确定并试点寨卡病毒预防和控制的风险沟通策略。社区成员积极参与了规划、制定和实施风险沟通计划。通过个人访谈、焦点小组和社区顾问委员会的投入收集的定性和定量数据，为确定相关的风险沟通策略提供了信息，以提高对寨卡病毒的认识，并促进行为改变。为了检验其影响，我们从随机抽取的 75 名社区居民中获得了基线和随访数据。通过面对面访谈评估了社区成员对寨卡病毒感染的知识、态度和行为。研究活动侧重于三种风险沟通策略：寨卡意识健康博览会、通过戏剧进行健康教育以及社区论坛和研讨会。风险沟通计划在两个月的时间内实施。基线和随访数据的结果表明，受访者对个人和社区预防寨卡感染的责任的认识、预防策略的知识以及对蚊虫控制的预防行为的参与度都有了显著的积极变化。我们的研究结果证实了基于社区的参与式研究对于设计和实施风险沟通策略的益处，这些策略对于使低收入社区的居民能够做出明智的决策，以预防寨卡病毒和其他蚊虫传播疾病具有重要意义。
