Framework for Risk Communication and Community Engagement to Improve
                        Vaccine Uptake for COVID-19 and other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Low-
                        and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC)

ObjectivesMeasures to limit the spread of infection during the COVID-19 global pandemic have made engaging and involving members of the community in global health research more challenging. This research aimed to explore how global health researchers adapted to the imposed pandemic measures in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and how they overcame challenges to effective community engagement and involvement (CEI).DesignA qualitative two-stage mixed-methods study involving an online survey and a virtual round table.SettingThe survey and round table were completed online.ParticipantsOf 53 participants, 43 were LMIC-based or UK-based global health researchers and/or CEI professionals, and 10 worked for the National Institute for Health Research or UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care.Outcome measuresThis study aimed to capture data on: the number of CEI activities halted and adapted because of the COVID-19 pandemic; where CEI is possible; how it has been adapted; what the challenges and successes were; and the potential impact of adapted or halted CEI on global health research.ResultsPandemic control measures forced the majority of researchers to stop or amend their planned CEI activities. Most face-to-face CEI activities were replaced with remote methods, such as online communication. Virtual engagement enabled researchers to maintain already established relationships with community members, but was less effective when developing new relationships or addressing challenges around the inclusion of marginalised community groups.ConclusionsCOVID-19 has highlighted the need for contingency planning and flexibility in CEI. The redesigning and adopting of remote methods has come with both advantages and disadvantages, and required new skills, access to technology, funding, reliable services and enthusiasm from stakeholders. The methods suggested have the potential to augment or substitute previously preferred CEI activities. The effectiveness and impact of these remote CEI activities need to be assessed.

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Engaging communities in non-communicable disease research and interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a realist review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050632 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e050632

Author(s):

Sonja Klingberg ◽

Bipin Adhikari ◽

Catherine E Draper ◽

Edna N Bosire ◽

Priscilla Tiigah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Engagement ◽

Communicable Disease ◽

Realist Review ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Disease Research ◽

Non Communicable Disease ◽

Low And Middle Income

IntroductionEngaging communities and intended beneficiaries at various stages of health research is a recommended practice. The contribution of community engagement to non-communicable disease research in low- and middle-income countries has not yet been extensively studied or synthesised. This protocol describes the steps towards generating an understanding of community engagement in the context of non-communicable disease research, prevention and health promotion using a realist review approach. A realist lens enables a rich explanatory approach to causation while capturing complexity, and an openness to multiple outcomes, including unintended consequences. The review will thus develop an understanding of community engagement without assuming that such practices result in more ethical research or effective interventions.Methods and analysisWe propose a realist approach aiming to examine how, why, under what circumstances and for whom community engagement works or does not work. The iterative review steps include clarifying the review scope; searching for evidence; appraising studies and extracting data; synthesising evidence and drawing conclusions; and disseminating, implementing and evaluating the findings. Principles of meta-narrative review (pragmatism, pluralism, historicity, contestation, reflexivity and peer review) are employed to ensure practicable and contextualised review outputs. The proposed review will draw on theoretical and empirical literature beyond specific diseases or settings, but with a focus on informing non-communicable disease research and interventions in low- and middle-income countries. The synthesis of existing literature will be complemented by qualitative realist interviews and stakeholder consultation. Through drawing on multiple types of evidence and input from both experts and intended beneficiaries, the review will provide critical and pragmatic insights for research and community engagement in low- and middle-income countries.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand. Dissemination will include traditional academic channels, institutional communications, social media and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders.

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The vaccine uptake research gap in low- and middle-income countries: Commentary on ‘Interventions for improving coverage of child immunization in low- and middle-income countries’

Evidence-Based Child Health A Cochrane Review Journal ◽

10.1002/ebch.1848 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 1013-1014

Author(s):

Noni E. MacDonald ◽

Jennifer Smith ◽

Michael Graven

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Middle Income ◽

Child Immunization ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Research Gap ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Delivering Drugs to the Poor: Will the TRIPS Amendment Help?

American Journal of Law & Medicine ◽

10.1177/009885880803400202 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 34 (2-3) ◽

pp. 107-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Graham Dutfield

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Infections ◽

High Income ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Middle Income ◽

Neonatal Deaths ◽

Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

The Poor ◽

Low And Middle Income ◽

Hiv Aids

Many of the diseases and health conditions that account for a large part of the disease burden in low- and middle-income countries are far less common in high-income countries. These burdens are primarily associated with infectious diseases, reproductive health, and childhood illnesses. Just eight diseases and conditions account for 29 percent of all deaths in low- and middle-income countries: TB, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases of childhood, malaria, respiratory infections, maternal conditions, and neonatal deaths.Approximately 17.6 million people in low- and middle-income countries die each year from communicable diseases and maternal and neonatal conditions. Both the occurrence of and the death rates from such diseases and conditions are far lower in all high-income countries.Millions of people in developing countries die of diseases for which treatments exist that can relieve suffering and save, or at least prolong, people’s lives. High-profile pandemics like HIV/AIDS understandably attract considerable attention. Millions of people have died of this terrible disease - 2.6 million in 2003 and 2.8 million in 2005, of which Sub-Saharan Africa contributed 1.9 million and 2.0 million respectively. As the above quote makes clear, there are a whole host of diseases that have particularly devastating impacts on the poor.

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