Lessons learned from approaches in COVID-19 risk Communication and community engagement in Malawi: an exploratory study.

Purpose: During public health emergencies like COVID-19, approaches used in Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) are critical in the process of transmitting and exchanging health information. However, there is generally limited literature on COVID-19 RCCE approaches, particularly their strengths and limitations. The current study seeks to contribute to that literature by exploring approaches that were used in COVID-19 RCCE in Malawi, a sub-Saharan African (SSA) country, and drawing lessons from the response based on experiences of those who implemented it.

Method: Using in-depth interviews with ten key informants and ten project reports from three organizations, data were analysed thematically in MAXQDA 2022.

Results: Significant themes that emerged revealed COVID-19 RCCE employed use of interpersonal approaches like training, peer education, mHealth and social media; use of community mobilization strategies like engagement meetings and dialogues, loud hearing through mobile vans and whistle stops; behaviour change printed materials; and the mass media. Effectiveness hinged on each method's accessibility, intrinsic qualities, and reach. Implementers also emphasized the value of combining multiple approaches and the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions.

Conclusion: The study underscores the need to select context-appropriate, accessible RCCE approaches to convey critical information, and contributes to the evidence base for future pandemic responses, especially in resource-limited settings.