Emidi Basiliana
National Institute for Medical Research Dodoma Centre, Dodoma, Tanzania.
J Basic Appl Zool. 2025;86(1):30. doi: 10.1186/s41936-025-00448-3. Epub 2025 May 5.
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs), specifically mosquito-borne diseases, are widespread in most sub-Saharan Africa countries. These diseases place significant strain on public health systems across the region. Community engagement has long been recognized as a key component of public health interventions. Since the Alma-Ata Declaration in 1978, efforts have been made to involve communities in healthcare programmes. Strengthening the community engagement strategies is essential for the success of malaria control and other mosquito-borne diseases. Women are key change agents in the efforts to combat VBDs. Involving them in the VBDs control and management efforts increases the levels of community acceptance and compliance. This qualitative study employed in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore community perspectives on establishing and sustaining women-led vector control groups. Data were collected from community members. Understanding community support for women's involvement in vector control is key to designing effective and sustainable programmes. This study aimed to assess the community perspectives and support for establishing women groups working in vector control at community level.
The study findings revealed that many of the respondents had a positive perception towards and accepted the idea of establishing and sustaining the 'women in vector control' groups at the community level. Most respondents agreed that these groups of women would help educate other community members on the importance of keeping their environment clean. They pointed out that women have a unique ability to pass such information passionately and persuasively to other people. A few respondents, however, were sceptical of this initiative. They believed that women occupy a subordinate social position in society-with little or no privilege and authority-thus making it hard for them to participate in the public activities. Most respondents also indicated that the community would support and sustain this group of women through provision of incentives.
Communities accept and support the idea of establishing and sustaining 'women champions in vector control' groups to eliminate VBDs. The study highlights the potential of involving women in vector control efforts as a community-driven strategy to improve public health, with strong support for the initiative and recognition of women's effectiveness in health education.
媒介传播疾病（VBDs），特别是蚊媒疾病，在撒哈拉以南非洲的大多数国家广泛存在。这些疾病给该地区的公共卫生系统带来了巨大压力。社区参与长期以来一直被视为公共卫生干预措施的关键组成部分。自1978年《阿拉木图宣言》以来，人们一直在努力让社区参与医疗保健计划。加强社区参与策略对于疟疾控制和其他蚊媒疾病的成功至关重要。妇女是抗击媒介传播疾病努力中的关键变革推动者。让她们参与媒介传播疾病的控制和管理工作可提高社区的接受度和依从性。这项定性研究采用深入访谈（IDIs）和焦点小组讨论（FGDs）来探索社区对建立和维持以妇女为主导的病媒控制小组的看法。数据收集自社区成员。了解社区对妇女参与病媒控制的支持是设计有效且可持续计划的关键。本研究旨在评估社区对在社区层面建立从事病媒控制工作的妇女小组的看法和支持情况。
研究结果显示，许多受访者对在社区层面建立和维持“病媒控制中的妇女”小组的想法持积极看法并予以接受。大多数受访者同意，这些妇女小组将有助于教育其他社区成员保持环境清洁的重要性。他们指出，妇女具有独特能力，能够热情且有说服力地将此类信息传递给其他人。然而，少数受访者对此举措持怀疑态度。他们认为，妇女在社会中处于从属社会地位，几乎没有特权和权威，因此很难参与公共活动。大多数受访者还表示，社区将通过提供激励措施来支持和维持这群妇女。
社区接受并支持建立和维持“病媒控制中的妇女倡导者”小组以消除媒介传播疾病的想法。该研究强调了让妇女参与病媒控制工作作为一种社区驱动战略以改善公共卫生的潜力，该举措得到了大力支持，且认识到妇女在健康教育中的有效性。
