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. 2021 Nov;22(6):750-757.
doi: 10.1177/15248399211041085. Epub 2021 Sep 30.

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of the COVID-19 Response in a Local Public Health System

Christina M Holt  1 , Stephen B Fawcett  1 , Ruaa Hassaballa-Muhammad  2 , Dan Partridge  2 , Sonia Jordan  2
Affiliations

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of the COVID-19 Response in a Local Public Health System

Christina M Holt et al. Health Promot Pract. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic tested the capacity of local health systems to understand and respond to changing conditions. Although data on new cases of COVID-19 were widely shared in communities, there was less information on the multisector response activities and factors associated with implementation. To address this gap, this empirical case study examined (a) the pattern of implementation of COVID-19 response activities and (b) the factors and critical events associated with both the pattern of new cases and the implementation of the local COVID-19 response. We used a participatory monitoring and evaluation system to capture, code, characterize, and communicate 580 COVID-19 response activities implemented in the city of Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas. Collaboration across sectors including public health, medical services, city/county government, businesses, social services, public schools, and universities enabled the local public health system's response effort. Documentation results showed the varying pattern of new COVID-19 cases and response activities over time and the factors identified as enabling or impeding the response and related new cases. Similar participatory monitoring and evaluation methods can be used by local health systems to help understand and respond to the changing conditions of COVID-19 response and recovery.

Keywords: COVID-19; collaborative action; community research; county health departments; monitoring and evaluation; pandemic monitoring; pandemic response; participatory evaluation; participatory research.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The 14-Day Moving Average of New COVID-19 Cases in Douglas County, Kansas, and Associated Factors Identified by Local Pandemic Partners
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cumulative Number of COVID-19 Response and Recovery Activities Over Time and Factors Identified by Partners as Enabling Implementation in Douglas County, Kansas
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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