Social communication network analysis of the role of participatory research in the adoption of new fish consumption behaviors

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorFrédéric Mertens
dc.contributor.authorJohanne Saint-Charles
dc.contributor.authorDonna Mergler
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-31T12:35:18Z
dc.date.available2013-07-31T12:35:18Z
dc.date.copyright2011
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThe formulation and communication of fish advisories are highly complex because of the potential conflict between the nutritional and toxicological issues associated with fish consumption. Government and organization-sponsored fish advisories have had limited success in changing behaviors. Participatory approaches may enhance the understanding of complex issues and the adoption of new behaviors. Here we used social network analysis to investigate the adoption of dietary changes within the context of a community participatory research project. In the Brazilian Amazon, many communities are highly exposed to methylmercury from fish consumption. A participatory intervention based on dietary changes aimed at reducing methylmercury exposure while maintaining fish consumptionwas initiated in 1995. In 2001, we collected data on individual participation in the research, on the discussion network regarding mercury issues and on changes in fish consumption from 96 of the 110 village households. More than half of men and women had adopted new fish consumption behavior to reduce mercury exposure. Adoption was associated with participation in the research project for both women and men, and with a higher number of discussion partners about mercury issues for women. Adoption was likewise associated with the presence of a female communication partner in the personal networks of both men and women. At the household level, men and womenwho considered their spouse as a discussion partner were more likely to adopt than those who did not. Opinion le]adership was associated with change in fish consumption only for women. We discuss the contribution of community participation and communication networks to overcome the difficulties in generating complex messages that take into account both health benefits and risks of fish consumption.We also discuss the relevance of building preventive health programs based on participatory research approaches and the roles and relations specific to men and women.en
dc.formatTexten
dc.format.extent1 digital file (p. 643-650)en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationMertens, F., Saint-Charles, J., & Mergler, D. (2012). Social communication network analysis of the role of participatory research in the adoption of new fish consumption behaviors. Social Science & Medicine, 75, 643-650.doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.10.016en
dc.identifier.issn0277-9536
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/51436
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevieren
dc.subjectBRAZILen
dc.subjectSOCIAL NETWORKSen
dc.subjectPARTICIPATORY RESEARCHen
dc.subjectCOMMUNITYen
dc.subjectFISH ADVISORIESen
dc.subjectMERCURYen
dc.subjectGENDERen
dc.subjectECOHEALTHen
dc.subjectDIETARY CHANGEen
dc.subjectHEALTH BEHAVIOURen
dc.subjectAMAZONen
dc.subjectNETWORKSen
dc.subjectCOMMUNITY PARTICIPATIONen
dc.subjectDIFFUSIONen
dc.subjectSOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSISen
dc.titleSocial communication network analysis of the role of participatory research in the adoption of new fish consumption behaviorsen
dc.typeJournal Article (peer-reviewed)en
idrc.copyright.holderElsevier Ltd.
idrc.dspace.accessIDRC Onlyen
idrc.noaccessDue to copyright restrictions the full text of this research output is not available in the IDRC Digital Library or by request from the IDRC Library. / Compte tenu des restrictions relatives au droit d'auteur, le texte intégral de cet extrant de recherche n'est pas accessible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI, et il n'est pas possible d'en faire la demande à la Bibliothéque du CRDI.en
idrc.project.componentnumber101416001
idrc.project.number101416
idrc.project.titleMercury Exposure and Ecosystem Health in the Amazon (CARUSO) - Phase IIIen
idrc.rims.adhocgroupIDRC SUPPORTEDen

Files

Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Agricultural Transformation / Transformation agricole
Environmental Pollution (includes SMEs and Mining) / Pollution de l’environnement (comprend les PME et l'industrie minière)
Latin America and the Caribbean / Amérique latine et Caraïbes
Multi-stakeholder Participation / Participation de multiples intervenants
Load more