Jeevan Shakti Mela: A public engagement process to raise awareness about type 2 diabetes in rural plains Nepal

Background

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is often not well understood among marginalized populations, but its prevalence is increasing, particularly in low-income countries. We will address this challenge in rural plains Nepal, enabling female Maithili artists from the Janakpur Women’s Development Centre (JWDC) to engage with communities about T2DM through research, drama, and a funfair. First, a research skills workshop will bring JWDC artists and researchers together to plan and implement discussions with community members, people with diabetes, health workers, and pharmacists about local understandings and effects of T2DM. Building on these discussions, JWDC and independent artists will work together during three workshops to produce traditional Maithili paintings, props, interactive displays, and games for a funfair. The fair will run for 2 days in a large public park, with one ‘women and children only’ day to enable culturally acceptable participation. JWDC artists will develop and perform a drama at the fair and in marginalized communities. A local and a national advisory committee will advise on content, quality, and reach of our activities at quarterly meetings. Through this engagement process, we hope to increase knowledge and understanding of type 2 diabetes mellitus and motivation to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus among JWDC artists and community members.

General Objective

To engage communities in rural plains of Nepal (Janakpur) about type 2 diabetes, increasing knowledge and awareness about the risk factors and how to self-manage diabetes.

Specific Objective

• To understand people’s perception of type 2 diabetes using formative research approach.
• To increase knowledge and understanding and motivate people of Janakpur to prevent, manage and care-seek for type 2 diabetes trough funfair (Mela) using Maithala arts, games and drama.

Project Partners

A collaboration between the UCL Institute for Global Health, HERD International, artists from the Janakpur Women’s Development Centre (JWDC), and Media for Development received funding from the Wellcome Trust to implement a public engagement process using local art to create culturally compelling health promotion and stimulate curiosity and conversation about type 2 diabetes. 

Methodology

For this study participatory research using traditional art, interactive games, and drama in Janakpur, enabling female Maithil artists from the Janakpur Women’s Development Centre (JWDC) to engage with communities about type 2 diabetes mellitus in four stages will be adopted:

1. Formative research stage:

A research skills workshop which will bring JWDC artists and researchers together to plan and implement discussions with community members, people with diabetes, health workers and pharmacists about local understanding of type 2 diabetes.

2. Creative workshop:

Building on formative discussions and strong collaborative relationships with independent artists, JWDC and independent artists who will work together in three workshops to create traditional Maithili paintings, props, interactive displays and games for the funfair.

3. Implementation of the drama and funfair:

Collaboration with a local organization, relative Nepal and perform the drama in 15 communities of hard to reach groups.

4. Evaluation:

JWDC artists and community members will be filmed during their journey of discovery of the causes and consequences of type 2 diabetes mellitus. 

Pictorial consent

For this study pictorial consent was developed which was used in the data collection process, where data was gathered from community members and health workers.  The pictorial consent was developed by artists at the Janakpur Women’s Development Centre. The pictorial consent includes consent and information process in pictures of every statement that is involved in the consent receiving process. The pictorial consent has also been posted in multiple social media. 

Pictorial consent can be found here: 

Information sheet can be found here:

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Project focal person

This projects focal person is Ms Abriti Arjyal.