Enhancing Ethiopian Youths' Literacy about the Gene x Environment Contributions to Health Using the Context of Podoconiosis

Poor understanding of gene-environment contributors to health conditions can lead the public to misinterpretations that overemphasize genetics as determinants of health. Podoconiosis is caused when genetically susceptible individuals are exposed to irritant soil particles and offers a concrete context for identifying best practices in enhancing literacy regarding gene x environment contributions, which may be generalized to other health conditions. 

The goal for this project was to use mental model (MM) methodology to improve literacy regarding gene-environment contributors to podoconiosis as a model for other preventable health conditions.  MMs were developed by decision analysts as a convenient way to summarize information about uncertain decision situations. To develop the MM, a literature review was conducted to identify key concepts and processes by which genetics and environmental exposures contribute to health conditions. These key concepts were presented to four experts along with the question: “How would you explain the causes of podoconiosis to an adolescent living in a podoconiosis endemic area to encourage them to take preventative actions?” Experts in two continents were interviewed for 90 minutes and asked to describe their answer through MM techniques.  Interviews were summarized, four models created then compiled into one which was presented to experts for further discussion and validation. 

This research is innovative because it employs the MM methodology to a gene x environment condition and focuses on techniques to create simple, understandable depictions of complex gene x environment concepts to help elicit behavioral change.