Network Analysis for a Community-Based School- and Family-Based Obesity Prevention Program.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Promotion
• Social Network Analysis

Background:

• Childhood obesity presents a significant public health challenge with severe health implications.
• Community-based, multi-setting interventions involving stakeholders show promise for addressing childhood obesity.
• Understanding stakeholder network structures and processes is crucial for effective intervention design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the structural and processual characteristics of stakeholder networks in community-based health promotion programs.
• To gain insights into collaboration patterns among stakeholders involved in childhood obesity prevention initiatives.
• To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of information dissemination and networking within these initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A network analysis (NA) was conducted within the 'Family+-Healthy Living Together in Families and Schools' program across two rural and one urban region.
• Stakeholders were identified through expert interviews and surveyed regarding contact frequency and collaboration intensity.
• Network characteristics such as density, centrality, and connectedness were analyzed and visualized.

Main Results:

• Three networks (20, 14, and 12 stakeholders) exhibited similar densities (42-52%) but varied in degree centrality.
• Network #1 (0.57) and #3 (0.58) showed higher degree centrality than Network #2 (0.39).
• Stakeholders exchanged information quarterly, primarily on an informal level, with differing expertise and structural orientations across networks.

Conclusions:

• Establishing a community health facilitator is recommended to engage stakeholders from health, education, and sports sectors.
• Participatory stakeholder involvement enhances information dissemination and networking, crucial for sustainable health promotion.
• Effective networking strategies are vital for successful community-based interventions, irrespective of regional (rural/urban) context.