A qualitative study on the reasons why community members in Ghana and Indonesia did not participate in public health campaigns.
To better understand why some individuals in Ghana and Indonesia do not participate in public health campaigns, a research team led by the University of Ottawa and Bruyère Research Institute conducted a qualitative study in both countries.
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted public health campaigns and revealed disparities in health outcomes and access to health interventions. In response, there is an increased focus on reaching people who have not participated in these campaigns, including those never treated for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and children who have not been immunized.
Identification of non-participating individuals poses a significant challenge. However, identifying and reaching this population is critical, as high numbers of these individuals could disrupt disease control efforts and lead to increased risk of infection.
The objectives of this study were to:
Through transect walks, focus groups, and interviews in Ghana and Indonesia, researchers explored rationales for non-participation in health campaigns, including childhood immunizations, COVID-19 vaccination, mass drug administration, and insecticide-treated net distribution. The findings indicate that although rationales may vary by campaign at the individual level, reasons for non-participation are similar across campaigns.
Scroll down for more key findings.