Co-creation and prototyping of an intervention focusing on health literacy in management of malaria at community-level in Ghana.

Millicent Addai Boateng, Aarhus University; Peter Agyei-Baffour, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology College of Health Sciences; Sanne Angel, Aarhus University, Institute of Public Health; Ofeibea Asare, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, College of Health Sciences; Benjamin Prempeh, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, College of Arts and Built Environment; Ulrika Enemark, Aarhus University, Institute of Public Health.

Introduction: Collaborating with end-users to develop interventions tailored to fit unique circumstances is proposed to improve relevance and effectiveness of an intervention. This study used a local need driven approach to develop a health literacy intervention for caregivers in Ghana concerning management of malaria in children under five years.

Method: A three-phase framework including: 1) needs assessment based on data from questionnaires, focus groups, individual interviews and observations, 2) Co-creation of a borad game and brochures for health education at Child Welfare Clinics to address needs in health literacy concerning malaria and 3)Development of a prototype of the game, brochures as well as determining user feasibility.

Findings: The needs assessment resulted in a useful intervention to bridge the gaps in health literacy among caregivers. Co-creation of the materials and prototyping yielded a varying sense of ownership among stakeholders. End-users’ engagement and participation in developing the intervention resulted in a high interest and adherence to interventions. However, high attrition rates of health workers and caregivers’ inconsistent use of the Child Welfare Clinics challenged sustainability of this intervention.