Submission ID 118374
| Issue/Objective | Despite global progress in women's and children's health, their access to services in fragile settings remains limited, with scant evidence on community engagement's role. From 2019 to 2023, the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supported National Red Cross societies in South Sudan (SS) and the Central African Republic (CAR) through the Advanced Partnership for Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescents Health (RMNCAH) project in conflict affected communities. This initiative aimed to improve access to essential and lifesaving health services for women, children and adolescents trapped in conflict, focusing on community engagement to strengthen health systems and resilience. This study explored communities' and health actors' perceptions of barriers and best practices for effective community engagement in conflict settings to improve RMNCAH outcomes. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Between May and June 2021, the team conducted fifteen (15) interviews with key informants including health actors, and sixteen (16) focus group discussions with women, men, youths, elders and community leaders in SS and CAR. The study was approved by the ICRC Ethics Review Board, and data was analyzed thematically. |
| Results | The study highlighted security, cultural context, language barriers, and lack of clear communication and trust as barriers to community engagement. Effective strategies included engaging community leaders, elders, women and youth during project planning and implementation. Innovative methods such as radio communication and creative arts encouraged community buy-in and actively enhanced trust, aiding program acceptance and provided access to conflict affected communities to inform them about the project's objectives and services. Involving women and children ensured their needs were addressed, promoting more inclusive and effective health services. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The study highlights the importance of effective community engagement strategies with women, youth, elders, and community leaders to build trust and enhance RMNCAH outcomes in conflict affected communities, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive, inclusive, and sustainable health interventions. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Puspita Hossain Canadian Red Cross Ilja Ormel Canadian Red Cross Faiza Rab Canadian Red Cross Salim Sohani Canadian Red Cross Mariam Kone Canadian Red Cross Mekdes Assefa Canadian Red Cross |
