206930 Water and health in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A community-centered collaborative initiative of the University of Venda and the University of Virginia

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 8:48 AM

Nisha Botchwey, PhD , School of Architecture, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Jane R. Boissevain, BA , Center for Global Health, Charlottesville, VA
Timothy Cunningham , School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Garrick Louis, PhD , School of Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Gerard Learmonth, PhD , School of Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Karen Firehock , School of Architecture, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Clare Terni , Department of Anthropology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Robert Swap, PhD , Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Carol Ann Spreen, PhD , School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Amidou Samie, PhD , University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
Julia Reis, BA , School of Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Vhonani Netshandama, PhD , Department of Community Engagement, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
Rebecca Dillingham, MD/MPH , Center for Global Health, Charlottesville, VA
  
Purpose: To develop a bi-national, multi-disciplinary program to improve water, sanitation and health outcomes in a water-scarce community in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Limpopo Province reports the highest rates of diarrhea in South Africa. Community leaders in the region identify poor access to water as their main priority. In response, the University of Venda and the University of Virginia developed a multidisciplinary initiative partnering with a community in the region to assess water, health and environmental development, create a sustainable water system, and monitor water-related health outcomes. Engaged disciplines from both universities include nursing, public health, education, engineering, urban planning, anthropology, microbiology, and environmental science. This initiative is intended as a model for similarly affected communities worldwide.

In the first 10 months of the project, planning workshops, community selection, stakeholder meetings, binational course offerings, and an initial research project substantively engaged students, faculty, and community members. As a result, a comprehensive community assessment plan now integrates methodologies for collecting data regarding water supply, access, quality, usage, policy issues, and water-related health outcomes. Student teams at both universities share information on a web-based learning platform in a collaborative learning process related to this project. Researchers have also elicited community members' perceptions on the status of and ways to improve the water system using photovoice methodology.

Integrating disciplines into a trans-national research program requires collaborative research design, creative, bi-national curricular offerings and innovative methodologies.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the components of a successful multi-disciplinary international health research project. 2. Identify innovative strategies to engage students in two countries in international health research and service. 3. Demonstrate how photovoice projects can engage communities, communicate concerns to researchers from a wide range of disciplines and guide next steps.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a team member on this research project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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