O-74 Enablers and challenges of delivering a health promotion intervention in places of worship in Guyana: a qualitative study
Author(s):
S Goberdhan, U Read , O Perreira, R Gobin, S Harding
Year of Presentation:
2025
Objective: The CONgregations Taking ACTion against
NCDs (CONTACT) study investigates the feasibility of
recruiting and training lay congregants from places of worship (PoWs), including mosques, churches and mandirs, to
act as health advocates (HAs) within their congregations.
This paper explores HA views and experiences of delivering the CONTACT intervention to provide insights into
perceived enablers and challenges of collaborating with primary health care centres and working within diverse PoWs
to implement a health promotion programme
Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 HAs at baseline and endline, which were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. First level codes were developed from interview topic guides. Sample transcripts were coded independently by two researchers, who developed second level codes derived inductively from the transcripts. First and second level codes were refined through comparison and discussion among the researchers.
Results: We identified 9 key themes: 4 enablers and 5 challenges. Key enablers included motivation of HAs, HA preparedness, PoWs as enabling environments and HA ability to adapt the intervention. The perceived challenges were competing priorities, limited support from religious leaders, limited resources, lack of trust in primary health care and limited understanding of the value of lifestyle changes. These key themes related to various aspects of the intervention, including recruitment and retention of HAs, mobilising resources and networks, strategies for engaging congregants and building successful community – primary health care partnerships.
Conclusion: Our research suggests the potential of embedding interventions within PoWs for the prevention and management of NCDs in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, but points to the need to account for social, cultural and religious differences between PoWs and their relationship with their congregants and communities.