Search

ABSTRACTMaternal and child malnutrition persists globally, despite existing healthcare and social protection systems. Socio-economic disadvantages contribute to high malnutrition rates, particularly in poor urban communities where many disadvantaged mothers cannot fully benefit from services. To address these disparities, a novel social needs framework has been proposed, emphasising the importance of addressing individuals’ unmet needs to enhance the benefits of nutrition services. This study investigates the perceived impact of community-based organisations (CBOs) in addressing the social needs of mothers in a resource-constrained urban township in South Africa. Interviews were conducted with 18 employees from 10 CBOs working on maternal and child health, food security and social support in Soweto. Thematic analysis revealed 23 services and four pathways through which CBOs believed to address unmet social needs of beneficiaries. Services were small-scale, including food aid, learning support, and social protection assistance, available to a few in dire need. CBO services partially addressed social needs of mothers due to scale, coverage, and sustainability limitations. The South African government should reaffirm its commitment to financially supporting the non-profit sector and integrating it into government sectors to provide tailored services and resources to address diverse social needs and mitigate nutrition inequalities among mothers and children.

Background: The strengths-based approach (SBA) was initially developed for people living with mental health issues but may represent a promising support option for community participation of people living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A community-based organisation working with people living with TBI is in the process of adapting this approach to implement it in their organisation. No studies explored an SBA implementation with this population. This study explores the implementation of key components of the SBA in a community-based organisation dedicated to people living with TBI. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews (n = 10) with community workers, before and during implementation, was used. Transcripts were analysed inductively and deductively. Deductive coding was informed by the SBA fidelity scale. Results: Group supervision and mobilisation of personal strengths are key SBA components that were reported as being integrated within practice. These changes led to improved team communication and cohesiveness in and across services, more structured interventions, and greater engagement of clients. No changes were reported regarding the mobilisation of environmental strengths and the provision of individual supervision. Conclusion: The implementation of the SBA had positive impacts on the community-based organisation. This suggests that it is valuable to implement an adaptation of the SBA for people living with TBI. This descriptive qualitative study explores the perceived changes within a community-based organisation following the implementation of a strength-based approach for people living with the sequela of a traumatic brain injury. Positive changes resulting from the implementation process were revealed through semi-structured interviews with community support workers of the organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal and child malnutrition persists globally, despite existing healthcare and social protection systems. Socio-economic disadvantages contribute to high malnutrition rates, particularly in poor urban communities where many disadvantaged mothers cannot fully benefit from services. To address these disparities, a novel social needs framework has been proposed, emphasising the importance of addressing individuals’ unmet needs to enhance the benefits of nutrition services. This study investigates the perceived impact of community)based organisations (CBOs) in addressing the social needs of mothers in a resource-constrained urban township in South Africa. Interviews were conducted with 18 employees from 10 CBOs working on maternal and child health, food security and social support in Soweto. Thematic analysis revealed 23 services and four pathways through which CBOs believed to address unmet social needs of beneficiaries. Services were small-scale, including food aid, learning support, and social protection assistance, available to a few in dire need. CBO services partially addressed social needs of mothers due to scale, coverage, and sustainability limitations. The South African government should reaffirm its commitment to financially supporting the non-profit sector and integrating it into government sectors to provide tailored services and resources to address diverse social needs and mitigate nutrition inequalities among mothers and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigated the contribution of a community-based organisation; Site C, Action Committee Against Xenophobia in Khayelitsha, Site C, in challenging prejudice against African migrants. The purpose of the study was to explore the contributions of a Community-Based Organisation in Khayelitsha in fighting prejudice against foreign nationals in the country. This is vital as there is paucity or absence of information on the contribution of host communities in challenging prejudice and protecting migrants. The paper explains how SACAX mobilised the community and raised awareness towards the 2010 World Cup. To understand this phenomenon, the study employed mixed-method research comprising both quantitative and qualitative research. The qualitative research utilised in-depth interviews with six purposefully selected SACAX leaders and 10 members. Interviews were conducted with ward councilors and community development workers. Focus group discussions were conducted with 10 community members. The quantitative research comprised surveying 100 participants. Qualitative data were analysed using narrative and thematic techniques, complemented by the descriptive method. Also, factor analysis was used to analyse quantitative data. The study found that though xenophobia is endemic in the country, there are efforts by some individuals to combat it. This reveals that not all South Africans are xenophobic. The study concludes that through civic education xenophobia was nipped in its bud. It recommends the creation of an integrated framework involving all stakeholders involved in refugee management and extending this campaign nationwide to curb xenophobia. It also recommends future researchers investigate the challenges of local integration in South African cities.

Freetown, Sierra Leone, is confronted with health risks that are compounded by rapid unplanned urbanisation and weak capacities of local government institutions. Addressing them implies a shared responsibility between government and non‐state actors. In low‐income areas, the role of community‐based organisations (CBOs) in combating health disasters is well‐recognised. Yet, empirical evidence on how they have utilised their networks and coordinated community‐level strategies in responding to the COVID‐19 pandemic is scant. This paper, based on a qualitative study in two informal settlements in Freetown, employs actor‐network theory to understand how CBOs problematise COVID‐19 as a health risk, interact with other entities, and the subsequent tensions that arise. The findings show that community vulnerabilities and past experiences of health disasters informed CBOs' perception of COVID‐19 as a communal emergency. In response, they coordinated sensitisation and mobilisation programmes by relying on a network of actors to support COVID‐19 risk reduction strategies. Nonetheless, misunderstandings among them caused friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigated the contribution of a community-based organisation; Site C, Action Committee Against Xenophobia in Khayelitsha, Site C, in challenging prejudice against African migrants. The purpose of the study was to explore the contributions of a Community-Based Organisation in Khayelitsha in fighting prejudice against foreign nationals in the country. This is vital as there is paucity or absence of information on the contribution of host communities in challenging prejudice and protecting migrants. The paper explains how SACAX mobilised the community and raised awareness towards the 2010 World Cup. To understand this phenomenon, the study employed mixed-method research comprising both quantitative and qualitative research. The qualitative research utilised in-depth interviews with six purposefully selected SACAX leaders and 10 members. Interviews were conducted with ward councilors and community development workers. Focus group discussions were conducted with 10 community members. The quantitative research comprised surveying 100 participants. Qualitative data were analysed using narrative and thematic techniques, complemented by the descriptive method. Also, factor analysis was used to analyse quantitative data. The study found that though xenophobia is endemic in the country, there are efforts by some individuals to combat it. This reveals that not all South Africans are xenophobic. The study concludes that through civic education xenophobia was nipped in its bud. It recommends the creation of an integrated framework involving all stakeholders involved in refugee management and extending this campaign nationwide to curb xenophobia. It also recommends future researchers investigate the challenges of local integration in South African cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults are more susceptible to adverse health outcomes during and after a disaster compared with their younger counterparts. Ageing-in-place organisations such as senior centres and Villages provide social services and programming for older adults and may support older adults' resilience to disasters. This study examines the role of ageing-in-place organisations in building disaster resilience for older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 14 ageing-in-place organisation leaders in King County, Washington in the United States of America. The sample included representatives of five government-run senior centres, seven non-profit senior centres and two Villages. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed. We used a combined inductive and deductive approach to code and thematically analyse the data. Ageing-in-place organisation leadership recognise disasters as a threat to older adults' health and safety, and they see opportunities to provide disaster-related support for older adults, though the type and extent of participation in resilience-building activities reflected each organisation's unique local context. Organisations participate in a variety of disaster-related activities, though respondents emphasised the importance of collaborative and communication-focused efforts. Findings suggest that ageing-in-place organisations may be best equipped to support older adults' disaster resilience by serving as a trusted source of disaster-related information and providing input on the appropriateness of disaster plans and messages for the unique needs of older adults ageing-in-place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intersectoral collaboration amongst health and other sectors, as well as between government and non-governmental organisations, has been highlighted as a way to improve health equity. We used a mixed-methods approach to assess collaborative relationships between multiple government sectors and civil society and to suggest possible health promotion interventions and policy alternatives for the urban poor in deprived neighborhoods. A total of 18 participants involved in health promotion interventions and policy processes related to the inner-city area of Seoul were recruited using purposive sampling methods. Participants included stakeholders working for or engaging in governments (3), public health care institutions (5), social service providers (3), community-based organisations (CBOs) (4) and faith-based organisations (3). We conducted semi-structured, one-on-one interviews and then collected survey data. Quantitative data were analysed using social network analysis, and qualitative data were analysed through iterative and consensus processes. The social network analysis indicated that a CBO plays the most substantial role in sharing and controlling informational resources to promote health. A stakeholder analysis showed that the CBO neutrally and negatively viewed the possibility of collaboration with other stakeholders. Three themes related to challenges to intersectoral collaboration emerged: (1) lack of trust and communication, (2) need of a coalition with a committed leading actor for future collaboration and (3) organisational and political silos within and across public sectors. Increased understanding of the current status of and challenges to collaboration can inform the planning and implementation of complex intervening strategies and policies tailored to vulnerable people in deprived neighborhoods. Community-led collaborative actions empower people in marginalised communities to envision a healthier community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A civil society organisation (CSO) catalysed water-related social learning. • Active citizenship was more evident at an individual or group than community level. • Learning and identity development occurred though sustained engagement in practice. • An iterative cycle of practice and reflection promoted learning-by-doing in the CSO. • Sustained support is needed for learning to lead to agency and improved livelihoods. Human capacity growth in knowledge and innovation is crucial if South Africa is to achieve developmental goals such as efficient, sustainable and equitable water resource management. About 80 percent of the South African population comprises socially and economically disadvantaged people, living in township areas (urban areas previously allocated to Black residents during the apartheid era) that experience low household water security and lack water-related knowledge capacity. For example, the national unemployment rate is 36.3%, and in the region of the study, the Eastern Cape, is 44.5%. An integrated approach to water resource management requires meaningful participation of water stakeholders in management processes. Civil society organisations championing practices to address water service delivery issues in their local communities are well placed to build their individual capacity and foster community capacity development and active citizenship around water issues. This paper explores the learning experiences of a civil society organisation, Water for Dignity (WfD), as they addressed water service delivery issues in the Makana Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The learning process of the WfD group was explored through the retrospective analysis of data collected through participatory action research, at the WfD group, and wider community level. Learning within the WfD group was analysed through a communities of practice lens. Learning between WfD and the wider community was analysed through using a social learning lens. Learning at WfD team level occurred in four ways, through learning as belonging, learning as doing, learning as experiencing and learning as becoming. Social learning that occurred at a community level related mainly to personal water rights and best practices for improving water quality and water conservation. These were fostered mainly through structured citizen engagements offered by WfD. The research provides evidence that civil society organisations can play an important role in bridging water-related knowledge gaps and can foster active citizenship in South African communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mutual interest in water issues catalysed civil society organisation (CSO) emergence. • Actions of a passionate, well-connected local champions promoted CSO coalescence. • Resource and leadership support and motivated core members enabled CSO practice. • Interaction in reflexive spaces built CSO-partner trust and encouraged CSO autonomy. • A harsh socio-economic practice context and leader neglect constrained CSO practice. South Africa has a progressive constitution and water legislation that align with and are in support of the country becoming a developmental state. Public participation in water governance processes is provided for in South African water law and is an integral component to achieving the National Water Act developmental principles of equity, sustainability and efficiency. Decentralisation of water service delivery to the local sphere of government has stretched the capacity of municipalities to the point of dysfunction. An opportunity subsequently emerged for civil society organisations (CSOs) to play an important collaborative role in transforming water service delivery to more socially and ecologically just situations. We argue that it is important to understand how CSOs emerge and practice in order to develop and support their role in the South African water sector. The research employed qualitative methods to explore the emergence and practice of a civil society organisation, Water for Dignity (WfD), in response to water service delivery challenges in the Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Communities of practice theory was adopted as a theoretical and analytical lens to explore the stages of development of WfD and the enabling and constraining factors to their practice. Factors that enabled the emergence and practice of WfD included: skilled support from stakeholders of distributed expertise and highly motivated core WfD members. Constraining factors included: poor internal leadership, socio-economic constraints and command and control by powerful stakeholders. The principles distilled in this paper can inform the emergence and function of similar civil society organisations in other local government contexts and forward the developmental goals of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers an alternative point of view on the perspectives that large-scale literacy surveys provide on refugee women by presenting the case of Darya, a young Afghan woman who moved to Canada as a refugee in 2009. It also presents how a community-based organisation for young people addressed Darya's literacy and identity curation practices, and life situation in their everyday activities. The original study this paper is based on adopted an ethnographic and participatory approach. For the purpose of this paper, only the data relating to Darya was retained and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The findings illustrate how exploring the intersections between gender, race, and religion is a fruitful lens to adopt in order to understand young refugee and migrant women's literacy learning and practices. The data suggest that the community-based organisation provided a positive space not just for literacy learning but also for important identity work. It did so by 1) grounding its activities in young people's lives and practices, 2) aiming to foster confidence building and autonomy, 3) being open to multilingualism and multimodality, and 4) focusing on young people's futures. The findings also illuminate the need to train youth workers about cultural responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Community‐based organisations (CBOs) are important for eliminating health disparities globally and translating research findings to inform interventions. Engagement is an integral part of partnerships between CBOs and community health researchers and impacts the quality and quantity of any desired outcome. Despite the acknowledged benefits of community‐based organisation engagement (CBOE), there are variations in its operationalisation and paucity in the understanding of its use in community‐scientific partnerships. To further understand CBOE, the aim of this study was to synthesise published literature relevant to the definitions and applications of CBOE and identify its key components. A systematic search was conducted in March 2017, and updated in June 2017. Keywords were varied to account for international differences in spelling and word usage. Five major databases, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Google Scholar, were used to identify potential research studies. A total of 32 studies were included in this review. Following the analysis of the literature, four salient themes emerged as components of CBOE: (1) Need (a consensus between all the parties in a partnership on the importance of a specified project and its proposed benefits to a target community); (2) Partnership Dynamics (the workings of a relationship between a CBO and a scientific/academic stakeholder); (3) Resources (include but are not limited to: personnel, money, work space, expertise and equipment); and (4) Outcomes (products of the partnership). This review provides a foundation for future research in applying CBOE to translational research and interventions. This analysis will assist community health researchers in planning partnerships with CBOs, and make necessary adjustments to improve study outcomes. Appropriate application of the components of CBOE in partnerships will assist researchers in addressing health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines governance impairing at the grassroots level that has limited the communities' access to basic services in Nepal. Primary data were collected from 110 locally constituted community-based organisations that employed110 organisational surveys and three focus group discussions. Result indicates that the overall practice of governance at the community level remained weak to moderate due to a number of reasons. Firstly, many communities were influenced by power based socio-economic structure. Secondly, some communities were impressed by power politics and interests. Thirdly, many communities were facing biggest crisis of low capacity and resource constraints. Such crisis has been a foremost obstacle in the working culture of communities so they were unable to embrace governance mechanism in their development undertakings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community governance is an approach of shift from governmentality to governance. This is more flexible approach extends beyond government, and the place of its agencies, to a greater sharing of power between the state, the market and civil society via new network and partnership structures. This paper analyses the determinants of community governance at the grassroots level in Nepal for the efficient delivery of basic services based on primary data sources. 110 locally constituted community based organisations were selected for an organisational survey. Additionally, three focus group discussions and 40 in-depth interviews were employed for information collection. A multiple linear regression model was used for data analysis, which revealed 12 variables such as Inclusive participation (X1), Empowerment of the people (X2), Transparency and accountability (X3) Enabling environment (X4), Practice of local democracy (X5), Service effectiveness (X6), Service integrity (X7), Social capital development (X8), Institution building (X9), Community mobilisation (X10) Planning, implementation, and monitoring (X11), Coordination, linkage, and partnership (X12) are significantly influencing governance practice. Results indicated a 14 percent variance between dependent and independent variables. This shows the overall practice of governance at the community level was malfunctioned, which can be attributed to a number of factors. First, many community-based organisations (CBOs) do not adopt governance mechanisms in their approach to development. Second, despite a crisis in governance, some CBOs have participated in the service delivery process. Third, this crisis has been a foremost obstacle in the working culture of CBOs. This analysis further explores the problem from the perspective of socio-economic structure, power politics and interests, institutional issues, and capacity and resource constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastside Illicit Drinkers Group for Education has been supportive of research dedicated to establishing the effectiveness of Managed Alcohol Programs since its inception. Dedicated funding for MAPs in Vancouver, British Columbia is contingent on the research demonstrating that alcohol-related harms are reduced while participating in a Managed Alcohol Program. The Eastside Illicit Drinkers Group for Education understands the need for evidence-based research but we are critical of how much research is needed before sustainable funding can be established for these innovative programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the global South, urban residents have come to play a much greater role in the provision of basic public services through a variety of government–community partnerships. Often referred to as public–public partnerships (PuPs), such arrangements are thought to be essential to ensure that services are efficient, equitable, sustainable and responsive to the needs and interests of heterogeneous communities. This paper draws on original research and secondary data to analyse the strengths and limitations of PuPs with respect to water provision in contemporary Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It explores two ways that community-based organisations (CBOs) have become partners in the delivery of water and draws attention to the external support received by the most successful community partners. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As health-care services in Nigeria and other African countries are becoming overstrained with patients, home-based care has increasingly been touted as a possible solution. The faith-based organisation, Gospel Health and Development Services, provides a home-based care programme for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) residing in Plateau State, Nigeria. This paper assesses the challenges that PLWHA in the programme faced while maintaining their health and livelihoods. The frustrations that volunteers endured in performing their work are also described, as well as the benefits and weaknesses of the programme from the perspective of PLWHA and their volunteer caregivers. Focus groups and interviews were done with 30 PLWHA and 22 volunteers to learn about their experiences with the home-based care programme and possible areas for its improvement. From these discussions three major challenges facing PLWHA emerged: discrimination towards PLWHA; the lack of money, food, and transport to health-care centres; and the desire for closer antiretroviral drug access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the past 3 decades, there has been a substantial shift to the marketisation of government-funded health services. For organisations traditionally buffered from the competitive pressures of for-profit enterprises, such as community-based organisations, this means developing the capacity to adapt to competitive tendering processes, shifting client expectations, and increasing demands for greater accountability. Drawing on ideas of institutional entrepreneurship, we believe that attempts to build adaptive capacity require the transformation of existing institutional arrangements. Key in this may be identifying and fostering institutional entrepreneurs--actors who take the lead in being the impetus for, and giving direction to, structural change. This study focuses on the strategies used by institutional entrepreneurs to build adaptive capacity in the community-based healthcare sector., Methods and Analysis: The research will use an adapted rapid realist review. The review will find underlying theories that explain the circumstances surrounding the implementation of capacity-building strategies that shape organisational response and generate outcomes by activating causal mechanisms. An early scoping of the literature, and consultations with key stakeholders, will be undertaken to identify an initial programme theory. We will search for relevant journal articles and grey literature. Data will be extracted based on contextual factors, mechanisms and outcomes, and their configurations. The analysis will seek patterns and regularities in these configurations and will focus on confirming, refuting or refining our programme theory., Ethics and Dissemination: The study does not involve primary research and, therefore, does not require formal ethical approval. However, ethical standards of utility, usefulness, feasibility, propriety, accuracy and accountability will be followed. The results will be written up according to the Realist and Meta-Review Evidence Synthesis: Evolving Standards guidelines. Once completed, findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal., Trial Registration Number: CRD42015026487., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/)