Engaging ethnic minority communities through performance and arts: health education in Cambodian forest villages.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
In Siem Pang, northeastern Cambodia, malaria transmission persists in remote forested areas populated by ethnic minorities. Engaging affected communities in health education campaigns is challenging due to language, access and literacy constraints. During 2018, a newly established medical research station conducted a health education programme in local villages harnessing traditional songs, arts and crafts, along with theatre, comedy and health talks and quizzes. Health education topics were proposed by community leaders and focused on maternal and child health and malaria. This article describes a process evaluation of these activities, the community's response and whether this was an appropriate form of health education in this context.Methods
In-depth interviews were conducted with community members, leaders and performers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated to English for thematic analysis.Results
In total, 65 interviews were conducted; 20 of these were follow-up interviews with respondents interviewed prior to the performances. Respondents were able to recall the key health messages about malaria, antenatal care and infant vaccination. They also showed good awareness of malaria transmission and prevention and described how they enjoyed the events and appreciated the efforts of the project team.Conclusions
In isolated communities in Cambodia, a health education programme harnessing performance and arts engaged the whole community and its messages were readily recalled and prompted reflection.
SUBMITTER: Callery JJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7902271 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Engaging ethnic minority communities through performance and arts: health education in Cambodian forest villages.
Callery James J JJ Sanann Nou N Tripura Rupam R Buntau Thoek T Peto Thomas J TJ Kunthea Pich P Pell Christopher C Soviet Ung U Nguon Chea C Lek Dysoley D Cheah Phaik Yeong PY
International health 20210201 2
<h4>Background</h4>In Siem Pang, northeastern Cambodia, malaria transmission persists in remote forested areas populated by ethnic minorities. Engaging affected communities in health education campaigns is challenging due to language, access and literacy constraints. During 2018, a newly established medical research station conducted a health education programme in local villages harnessing traditional songs, arts and crafts, along with theatre, comedy and health talks and quizzes. Health educat ...[more]
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