‘Promoting women’s and children’s health through community groups in low-income and middle-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review of mechanisms, enablers and barriers’ published in the British Medical Journal
Dec 5 2019 / Posted in

The systematic review explores the impact of community mobilization through group activities on women's and children's health in low- and middle-income countries. It identifies mechanisms, enablers, and barriers in these interventions, revealing the complexity of fostering health improvements in diverse contexts. The study highlights participatory education, collective action, and social support as key mechanisms, though evidence for their effectiveness varies. Barriers like existing poverty, societal norms, and power hierarchies often hinder progress, while enablers like pre-existing social cohesion and supportive institutional frameworks enhance intervention success.
A key insight from the review is the need for context-sensitive designs, respecting local knowledge while addressing inequities. Group activities were found to catalyze critical consciousness and collective capacities among participants, fostering awareness and action against health issues. However, inconsistent attendance, limited cohesion, and inadequate facilitator training often reduced effectiveness. Furthermore, the review underlines the difficulty of generalizing findings due to varied cultural and societal settings, calling for tailored approaches in implementation.
Finally, the study underscores the challenges in evaluation, with limited empirical evidence supporting specific mechanisms or their links to health outcomes. Despite the promise of community mobilization, achieving long-term and scalable impact requires addressing structural barriers, fostering inclusivity, and maintaining a balance between empowering local communities and leveraging external resources. This dual approach ensures sustainable health advancements and strengthens the evidence base for such interventions.
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