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Effective mine risk education in war-zone areas--a shared responsibility
Joanne Durham1, Sue Gillieatt, Bounpheng Sisavath
1South Sudan Regional Mine Action Office/UN Mine Action Services, AFEX, Rumbek, South Sudan. durhamjo@yahoo.com
Health Promotion International
|June 21, 2005
Summary
Mine risk education programs in Lao PDR are often inadequate. Effective strategies must address community socioeconomic factors, not just ignorance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) risks.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Education
- International Development
Background:
- Landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination poses a significant risk in many countries.
- Mine risk education (MRE) aims to reduce injury by raising awareness and promoting behavioral change.
- Existing MRE programs may not adequately address the complexities of long-term UXO exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mine risk education practices.
- To identify lessons learned from an ongoing MRE program in Lao PDR.
- To propose improved approaches to MRE based on empirical evidence.
Main Methods:
- Empirical study of an MRE program implemented in Lao PDR since 1996.
- Analysis of data from the program's monitoring and evaluation process.
- Review of health promotion literature and program experiences.
Main Results:
- Continued reliance on traditional MRE may be insufficient in areas with long-term UXO infestation.
- Top-down educational methods, assuming ignorance is the primary cause of accidents, are inadequate.
- Community socioeconomic, political, and cultural contexts are crucial factors in MRE effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Standard MRE programs often fail to account for the lived realities of affected communities.
- There is a need to supplement or replace current MRE with context-specific approaches.
- Integrating an understanding of community circumstances is vital for successful mine risk reduction.