Evaluation of Trachoma Health Promotion
The aim of this evaluation is to establish recommendations for future health promotion approaches in trachoma beyond June 2024 including improvements to current approaches with consideration for efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness.
External consultants – Nama Jalu
Nama Jalu Consulting have been engaged by the Minum Barreng: Indigenous Eye Health Unit to support the evaluation of the Trachoma Health Promotion Project.
Nama Jalu is a majority Aboriginal owned and led Aboriginal Social Enterprise consultancy. The Nama Jalu team have many years of experience working with Aboriginal communities, organisations and government agencies on projects, programs and services for community across the government, community and private sectors. Nama Jalu’s work is focused on achieving Aboriginal community outcomes and directed to achieve sustainable and real change for Aboriginal people and communities.
More information about Nama Jalu Consulting can be found here.
Delphi Survey Questions and 19 Initiatives
The Delphi method used two rounds of surveys to rate effectiveness and rank priorities. There was also a workshop in person and online to discuss the findings.
As there have been a range of health promotion initiatives conducted as part of the Trachoma Health promotion Project since 2009, it was decided to group the many resources and activities into groups that could be presented to experts for assessment and comparison through the Delphi surveys. Minum Barreng developed initial categories which were then confirmed after discussion and revision with the Nama Jalu team. Below are the so called 19 initiatives included in the surveys.
Survey #1 included two activities – rate how effective the 19 initiatives were in raising awareness about facial cleanliness on a scale. Effectiveness was explained as success in producing a desired result, in this case raising awareness about facial cleanliness in the elimination of trachoma.
The second part of survey #1 was to rate how high of a priority they think the 19 initiatives should be for trachoma health promotion in the next three years.
Survey#2 provided an opportunity to re-rate the priority of any non-consensus initiatives.
Printed 'Clean Faces, Strong Eyes' trachoma resources
These refer to the posters, cards, and other printouts.
For example, The SAFE Strategy to Eliminate Trachoma card, Milpa Wash Your Face poster, The Trachoma Story Kit and Correcting 10 Myths about Eliminating Trachoma document.
'Milpa's Six Steps to Stop Germs' trachoma resources (broader health and hygiene messages and actions).
These refer to the posters, cards, stickers, and colouring in booklet, that detailed Milpa’s Six Steps to Stop Germs.
Promotional materials, clothing and merchandise
These refer to the physical items to give away for people to keep as reminders.
For example, t-shirts, stickers, temporary tattoos and wristbands.
Branding (Milpa logo, Trachoma branding, Key messages)
These include the use of 'Milpa Trachoma Goanna' logo, 'Clean Faces, Strong Eyes' and 'Trachoma' branding on printed resources and vehicles/water trailers.
Music Videos
Music videos that were made with original songs to convey messages around trachoma promotion, such as Through My Eyes (Docker River, NT), Kulilla Kulilla Pay Attention (Warburton, WA) and Fregon APY Lands Trachoma Elimination Song.
TV and Radio Community Service Announcements (CSAs)
Different CSAs produced to convey messages around trachoma health promotion, such as Milpa's Six Steps to Stop Germs with Drum Attweme and Melbourne Football Club (Deakyn Smith & Kozzy Pickett). The CSAs have been broadcast on several channels over the years including Imparja and Go TV, ICTV, CAAMA Radio, NG Media, PY Media and in many languages.
Melbourne Football Club (MFC) support for the elimination of trachoma
This refers to the players and staff from the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) who were involved in promoting the key messages of the campaign and delivering football clinics, for example 2022 IEHU and MFC trip.
School-based Educational Resources
These refer to all the different teacher books, student workbooks, lesson plans, and other interactive educational material as part of the promotion. Including poster competitions, classroom presentations and support from the Department of Education and schools and early learning centres. The teacher books and lesson plans have been developed in partnership with the departments of education in the NT and WA and include links to the relevant curriculum for various ages including early years and primary.
SAFE Bathroom Resources
These refer to the various resources developed around the SAFE Bathroom campaign, including the printed checklist, animated video. These resources were developed with input from NT, WA and SA to encourage discussion about reporting any maintenance issues in houses so they can be fixed.
Resource Adaptations
These refer to adaptations of resources external organisations have made using the branding and logos. Some examples include 'trachoma rates in communities', 'social media posts', 'drink bottles', 'bags' and 'soft footballs'.
Milpa the Trachoma Goanna Character Costume
Milpa the Trachoma Goanna life size costume appearing at events, schools and community visits.
Online Training
Remote Area Health Corps modules are also available on the AHCWA portal, and the CERA grading module is available on the Mium Barreng website.
Online Marketing and Communications
This refers to the online activities and platforms set up for the promotion, such as the website, e-Bulletin / newsletter and social media pages (Facebook and Instagram).
Community Engagement
This refers to all face-to-face community activities such as yarning with community members about trachoma, trachoma presentations and activities in early learning and primary school settings, and running stalls at community events.
Hygiene Bags
This refers to bags with different hygiene products, given out at events and community days. Hygiene bags can include items such as soap and towels, as well as other trachoma resources.
Community Art Murals
These refer to the painted murals that feature community stories and trachoma messaging, painted by a commissioned artist and local artists from each community. These community murals then act like a billboard. See some of the stories behind the art mural projects here Art Mural and Hip Hop Project, Willowra Art Mural Project, Areyonga Art Mural Project, Utopia Homelands Art Mural Project.
Partnerships and Collaborations (connecting the sector)
Minum Barreng could not undertake our work in health promotion and community engagement without partnerships and collaborations. These occur regularly out in community and in meetings and projects. Some examples include bringing groups together to discuss sector wide issues, for example facilitating the Central Australian Environmental Health Working Group, facilitating the NT Health and Education group, or healthy homes workshops with partners such as Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) and Environmental Health Project WA and healthy housing officer roles such as with Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and partners Fred Hollows Foundation and Nourish Our Communities Ltd.
Augmented Reality App
This refers to the 3D Augmented Reality App, developed to make learning about Milpa’s Six Steps to Stop Germs more interactive and fun for kids and adults.
Clinical Resources
This refers to clinical resources such as the WHO Trachoma Grading Card, Trachoma Resource Book and clinical information posters and cards developed to assist clinical staff in the diagnosis and treatment of trachoma.