Tuberculosis education in an endemic setting: application of participatory methods to video development in The Gambia

To produce an educational video for tuberculosis (TB) awareness in The Gambia using participatory methods and integrated formative evaluation.

A steering group was formed of key people working in TB research, health education, the health service and the media. They developed a script and commissioned local production of the video in three local languages and English. A formative participatory evaluation of the project was conducted using document review, attendance at rehearsals and semi-structured interviews. A pilot version of the video was evaluated through focus groups in Banjul and remote villages. Data were analysed using a general inductive approach.

Five major themes emerged from evaluation of the project participatory process: collaboration, knowledge sharing, networking, ownership and a common desire to sustain the project goals for video dissemination. The video was well received and described as informative, entertaining and professional. Audiences were able to identify the key messages, prevailing attitudes about TB were challenged, and many participants expressed a desire to act on their new knowledge.

A participatory approach to the development of a video in The Gambia proved to be empowering to local participants and led to the production of a resource well received by Gambian people.