Social Science Strengthens One Health: A Participatory Approach to Codevelop a Guidebook on Countering Zoonotic...

Area of Science:

• One Health
• Epidemiology
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Zoonotic diseases pose significant risks to regional and global health security.
• Controlling pathogen spillover requires context-specific recommendations and collaborative efforts.
• Southeast Asia is a critical region for addressing zoonotic spillover risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To codevelop a guidebook for countering zoonotic spillover in Southeast Asia.
• To demonstrate how participatory approaches and implementation science can guide One Health actors.
• To foster a common goal among diverse experts for enhanced health security.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between International Network for Governmental Science Advice Asia and US National Academies.
• Inclusion of experts from virology, bioinformatics, wildlife conservation, biodefense, epidemiology, and implementation science.
• Utilized participatory exercises like silent reflections, role-playing, and "systems-thinking iceberg" for dynamic discussions.
• Applied frameworks such as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Main Results:

• Developed behavior change and policy recommendations for zoonotic spillover prevention.
• Successfully incorporated diverse perspectives by overcoming linguistic, disciplinary, and technological barriers.
• Identified strategies for adapting interventions to local contexts without reinventing them.
• Facilitated social learning and positive group dynamics among One Health actors.

Conclusions:

• Participatory approaches are effective in uniting One Health actor groups toward a collective vision.
• Codevelopment of guidelines, using implementation science, can strengthen local ownership and health security.
• This collaborative model provides a scalable framework for addressing zoonotic risks in other regions.
• Effective strategies were identified to overcome common challenges in international, interdisciplinary collaborations.