(P20-009-24) A Community-Based Participatory Research Program to Train Children As Health Promoters in Mexico: Lessons Learned From a Process Evaluation

Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify the mechanisms occurring during the training of children health promoters (CHP) that trigger outcomes in a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) program from a realistic evaluation perspective theory.

Methods: A realist methodology was followed to understand the why and what worked involving a context-mechanism-outcome configuration (CMOcs). The program was developed in 6 primary schools where 88 children were selected and trained as health promoters using a CBPR approach. Qualitative data include multiple sources that include school principals (n=5) and CHP (n=14) interviews, and CHP parents' discussion groups (n=4). A school environment observational guide was also applied during the research team visits to schools (n=6).

Results: The analysis supports the importance of the development of a community-based program that involves community partnerships trust and support as trusting and the overall feeling of support and motivation of the research team, teachers, parents and principals was one of the most prominent mechanisms identified, other mechanisms were the compromise and sense of belonging to the children's health promoters’ group and environmental characteristics such as healthy food availability in schools.

Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of a process evaluation that provides essential information about the CMOcs to improve programs and be able to transfer them to other contexts for effective and sustainable solutions at the population level that includes community participation and partnership sustainability.

Funding Sources: This research was supported by the National Council of Humanities, Sciences and Technologies (CONAHCYT), México.