The Ugandan youth public health ambassador program: a community-based public health initiative

In 2020, the Global Research, Implementation, and Training (GRIT) Lab at the University of Southern California was forced to quickly shift its large community-based youth public health training programs to respond to the COVID-19 realities. This resulted in the implementation of the Youth Public Health Ambassador (YPHA) program, initially launched in Lira district, Uganda, and since expanded to include Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya. The program serves as a model for other youth-focused, community-based public health education, research, and policy advocacy programming effective in both rural and urban settings.

The YPHA Program consists of a multi-year training initiative led by public health students and professionals from East Africa and the United States. The program identifies and empowers youths (aged 18-24) as peer educators, data collectors, and agents of change. The program consists of three distinct components: basic public health education, implementation of a community-based participatory research study, and community outreach and data dissemination. Ambassador proficiency in public health and leadership skills were assessed throughout.

Upon program completion, YPHAs showed greater mastery and indicated having higher confidence in educating their community members in all topic areas. YPHAs were also able to successfully conduct a comprehensive community health assessment by collecting and analyzing data from households, health facilities, and schools. YPHAs then disseminate their results within their communities and to local and national policymakers, the Ministries of Health, and the United States Embassy.

The program's findings will hopefully encourage further investment in youth-centered health promotion programming, further incorporation of youth-led programs for low-income communities, and youth-driven policy advocacy.