Engaging the community and building public trust in the control and prevention of public health diseases

Engaging the community and building public trust in health research through knowledge mobilisation and active learning skill are vital to minimize the burden of infectious diseases of prime public health importance. General audience is always at risk of diseases, and considered to be the most suitable community groups that needs to be educated. In this study, trained group of young public health graduates have conducted a planned scheme of sessions among field gatherings, general education-based universities, higher secondary schools, colleges and vocational training institutes to educate the students about the importance of public health education in 2022. The study possessed definite inclusion and exclusion criteria. Almost, 2557 students were educated in all the sessions, whil each session lasted for 30-minutes in which pre-planned multiple-choice questions were given to the participants to assess their knowledge. Active learning skills included formative assessment tools, and engagement of participants using printed material for reading and writing. The session was ended with the delivery of the pre-assessment questionaries to reassess the performance of the demonstrators. The results of the study were fairly interesting and exhibited societal impact. More than 90% participants of each session showed correct answers of the questions presented in the assessment. The participants also showed keen interest in knowing further about the preventive measures, clinical signs & symptoms. The mobile numbers or social media accounts were submitted by most of the students to the demonstrators, and they requested the demonstrator to send participants information about upcoming public health events (conferences. Seminars, and workshops). The study concluded that the outreach activities, based on active-learning skills, are integral in building the trust, motivation and social mobilisation. This outreach project lessened the burden of nosocomial infections, ensuring food-safety, and well-being of the people.