Co-production of slum health: A community based participatory research for building healthy communities in urban slums of Salvador, Brazil.
Creators: name: MOGAJI, Hammed
name: Aliaga, Marie Agnes
name: Almeida, Livia Figueredo
name: Henrique, Joao
name: Argibay, Hernan
name: Salles, Inajara
name: Rocha Nery Junior, Nivison Ruy
name: Awoniyi, Adedayo Michael
name: Cuz, Jaqueline S
name: de oliveira carneiro, Ianei
name: Lustosa, Ricardo
name: Ko, Albert I
name: Alzate Lopez, Yeimi Alexandra
name: Costa, Federico
name: Begon, Mike
name: Khalil, Hussein
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024

description: Background: Over 15% of Brazil's urban population lives in favelas, facing limited economic opportunities and inadequate access to essential services like clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. This study explores Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to address health challenges in three Brazilian urban slums (Alto-Do Cabrito, Marechal Rondon and Pau da Lima) characterized by significant socioeconomic disparities and health risks.

Methods: Our research team collaborated with local stakeholders and residents to co-create interventions aimed at improving health outcomes and fostering sustainable change. We performed ethnographic, eco-epidemiological and collaborative mapping surveys to contextualize multiple health and well-being issues, including infectious diseases, rat infestations, food security, and environmental and community well-being. Consultative meetings were further held with dynamic community groups comprising women, children, community leaders, and researchers to identify community needs and develop interventions that addresses immediate priorities. 

Findings: In Alto-Do Cabrito, interventions included a memorial project, a health fair, the "Dique Verde Vivo Project" for lake restoration, "Bota Fora" for waste removal, and artistic paintings to redevelop degraded areas. Marechal Rondon saw similar interventions, along with community empowerment initiatives like university courses and language classes. In Pau da Lima, interventions included a municipal sewage coverage project, Eco-social hubs, sporting and recreational activities, and a community garden and kitchen.

Conclusion: The interventions have rapidly built community trust and facilitated access to government agencies. Future evaluations will assess implementation outcomes such as acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability to ensure long-term success. These efforts are crucial for sustainable changes, even if immediate epidemiological impacts are not measurable.
description: Over 15% of Brazil's urban population lives in favelas, facing limited economic opportunities and inadequate access to essential services like clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. This study explores Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to address health challenges in three Brazilian urban slums (Alto-Do Cabrito, Marechal Rondon and Pau da Lima) characterized by significant socioeconomic disparities and health risks. Our research team collaborated with local stakeholders and residents to co-create interventions aimed at improving health outcomes and fostering sustainable change. We performed ethnographic, eco-epidemiological and collaborative mapping surveys to contextualize multiple health and well-being issues, including infectious diseases, rat infestations, food security, and environmental and community well-being. Consultative meetings were further held with dynamic community groups comprising women, children, community leaders, and researchers to identify community needs and develop interventions that addresses immediate priorities. In Alto-Do Cabrito, interventions included a memorial project, a health fair, the "Dique Verde Vivo Project" for lake restoration, "Bota Fora" for waste removal, and artistic paintings to redevelop degraded areas. Marechal Rondon saw similar interventions, along with community empowerment initiatives like university courses and language classes. In Pau da Lima, interventions included a municipal sewage coverage project, Eco-social hubs, sporting and recreational activities, and a community garden and kitchen. The interventions have rapidly built community trust and facilitated access to government agencies. Future evaluations will assess implementation outcomes such as acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability to ensure long-term success. These efforts are crucial for sustainable changes, even if immediate epidemiological impacts are not measurable.