Infectious Disease
Key Informant Interviews to Inform Community-Driven Vector-Borne Disease Education in Arizona Skyler Finucane* Skyler Finucane Finucane Finucane Finucane University of Arizona
Background: Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose a persistent and preventable threat to human health in Arizona and across the United States. Despite the availability of effective prevention strategies, continued transmission highlights gaps in public awareness and engagement. Novel, community-centered educational approaches are needed to improve prevention behaviors. Partnering with key informants, trusted community leaders with direct public engagement experience, offers an opportunity to develop education strategies that are locally relevant, feasible, and aligned with community needs. This study aims to assess interest, capacity, and perceived barriers among Arizona community leaders to collaborating on VBD education and outreach efforts.
Methods: We are conducting qualitative key informant interviews with leaders of local organizations and businesses across Pima County (urban) and Santa Cruz County (rural). Participants include individuals working in hardware stores, community gardens, nurseries, and feed stores which are settings where community members frequently seek guidance and advice regarding outdoor activities and pests such as mosquitoes. Approximately 20-30 participants are being recruited through publicly available professional channels and community organizations. Interviews are conducted in person, by phone, or virtually depending on participant preference and range from 10 to 60 minutes in length. Semi-structured interview guides explore participants’ roles within their organizations, experiences with mosquito and tick-related questions from the public, current education practices, and interest in potential collaboration. Interviews are audio-recorded with consent and will be analyzed using a thematic analysis.
Results (preliminary): Current interviews with hardware store and community garden participants indicate that community leaders frequently receive questions related to mosquitoes and how to control them, but no one has received questions related to ticks. Many hardware store participants expressed interest in receiving or helping to develop brochures and posters that could be displayed near insect repellent products. Some commonly identified barriers to participation include time constraints and limited staffing capacity.
Conclusion: This ongoing study is building partnerships with local organizations and identifying opportunities for community-driven VBD education in southern Arizona. Findings will inform the development of new VBD educational materials and outreach strategies that incorporate advice and suggestions from trusted community leaders.