Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36962765›Full record

ArticlePLOS global public health2022

"I see salt everywhere": A qualitative examination of the utility of arts-based participatory workshops to study noncommunicable diseases in Tanzania and Malawi.

Maria Bissett, Cindy M Gray, Sharifa Abdulla, Christopher Bunn, Amelia C Crampin, Angel Dillip, Jason M R Gill, Heri C Kaare, Sharon Kalima, Elson Kambalu and 7 more

Open access · goldFull text read
In one paragraph

Article in PLOS global public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 81% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Maria BissettSchool of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Cindy M GraySchool of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4295-6110
Sharifa AbdullaFine and Performing Arts Department, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi.
Christopher BunnSchool of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6604-1305
Amelia C CrampinSchool of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1513-4330
Angel DillipHealth Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
Jason M R GillSchool of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3615-0986
Heri C KaareTaasisi ya Sanaa na Utamaduni Bagamoyo (TaSUBa), Bagamoyo, United Republic of Tanzania.
Sharon KalimaArt and Global Health Centre Africa, Zomba, Malawi.
Elson KambaluArt House Africa, Lilongwe, Malawi.
John LwandaSchool of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Herbert F MakoyeTaasisi ya Sanaa na Utamaduni Bagamoyo (TaSUBa), Bagamoyo, United Republic of Tanzania.
Otiyela MtemaZaluso Arts, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Mia PerrySchool of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0886-7093
Zoë StrachanSchool of Critical Studies, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Helen ToddArt and Global Health Centre Africa, Zomba, Malawi.
Sally M MtengaHealth Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
University of Glasgow · GBIfakara Health Institute · TZUniversity of Bagamoyo · TZLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · GBMalawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit · MWUniversity of Malawi · MW

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_PC_MR/R019428/1Medical Research Council MC_PC_MR/R024448/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, is rising in Sub-Saharan African countries like Tanzania and Malawi. This increase reflects complex interactions between diverse social, environmental, biological, and political factors. To intervene successfully, new approaches are therefore needed to understand how local knowledges and attitudes towards common NCDs influence health behaviours. This study compares the utility of using a novel arts-based participatory method and more traditional focus groups to generate new understandings of local knowledges, attitudes, and behaviours towards NCDs and their risk factors. Single-gender arts-based participatory workshops and focus group discussions were conducted with local communities in Tanzania and Malawi. Thematic analysis compared workshop and focus group transcripts for depth of content and researcher-participant hierarchies. In addition, semiotic analysis examined the contribution of photographs of workshop activities to understanding participants' experiences and beliefs about NCD risk factors. The arts-based participatory workshops produced in-depth, vivid, emotive narratives of participants' beliefs about NCDs and their impact (e.g., "… it spreads all over your body and kills you-snake's poison is similar to diabetes poison"), while the focus groups provided more basic accounts (e.g., "diabetes is a fast killer"). The workshops also empowered participants to navigate activities with autonomy, revealing their almost overwhelmingly negative beliefs about NCDs. However, enabling participants to direct the focus of workshop activities led to challenges, including the perpetuation of stigma (e.g., comparing smells associated with diabetes symptoms with sewage). Semiotic analysis of workshop photographs provided little additional insight beyond that gained from the transcripts. Arts-based participatory workshops are promising as a novel method to inform development of culturally relevant approaches to NCD prevention in Tanzania and Malawi. Future research should incorporate more structured opportunities for participant reflection during the workshops to minimise harm from any emerging stigma.

Identifiers

PMID36962765
PMCPMC10022006
OpenAlexW4312208062

What OpenQuestion holds

Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
measurements read8
identifiers read2
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.