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. 2021 Feb 26;7(1):11.
doi: 10.1186/s40900-020-00246-x.

Community-driven citizen science approach to explore cardiovascular disease risk perception, and develop prevention advocacy strategies in sub-Saharan Africa: a programme protocol

Kufre Joseph Okop  1   2 , Kathy Murphy  3 , Estelle Victoria Lambert  4 , Kiya Kedir  5 , Hailemichael Getachew  5 , Rawleigh Howe  5 , Jean Berchmans Niyibizi  6 , Selemani Ntawuyirushintege  6 , Charlotte Bavuma  7 , Stephen Rulisa  7 , Stephen Kasenda  7 , Effie Chipeta  8   9 , Christopher Bunn  8   10 , Amelia C Crampin  8 , Gertrude Chapotera  11 , Abby C King  12   13 , Ann Banchoff  13 , Sandra J Winter  13 , Naomi S Levitt  3
Affiliations

Community-driven citizen science approach to explore cardiovascular disease risk perception, and develop prevention advocacy strategies in sub-Saharan Africa: a programme protocol

Kufre Joseph Okop et al. Res Involv Engagem. .

Abstract

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which experiences a disproportionately high cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden, population-based screening and prevention measures are hampered by low levels of knowledge about CVD and associated risk factors, and inaccurate perceptions of severity of risk.

Methods: This protocol describes the planned processes for implementing community-driven participatory research, using a citizen science method to explore CVD risk perceptions and to develop community-specific advocacy and prevention strategies in the rural and urban SSA settings. Multi-disciplinary research teams in four selected African countries will engage with and train community members living in rural and urban communities as citizen scientists to facilitate conceptualization, co-designing of research, data gathering, and co-creation of knowledge that can lead to a shared agenda to support collaborative participation in community-engaged science. The emphasis is on robust community engagement, using mobile technology to support data gathering, participatory learning, and co-creation of knowledge and disease prevention advocacy.

Discussion: Contextual processes applied and lessons learned in specific settings will support redefining or disassembling boundaries in participatory science to foster effective implementation of sustainable prevention intervention programmes in Low- and Middle-income countries.

Keywords: Advocacy; Cardiovascular disease; Citizen science; Community engagement; Community-driven; Participatory learning; Risk perception; Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests” in this section.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effects of citizen science on health, health governance and knowledge system [19]. Adapted from Den Broeder et al. 2018, page 511
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Project design and activity workflow
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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