IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v385y2025ics0277953625008871.html

A scoping review of community participation in public health research and action during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring approaches on the continuum between utilitarianism and empowerment

Author

Listed:
  • Frahsa, Annika
  • Liwanag, Harvy Joy
  • Kobler Betancourt, Cristopher
  • Ipekci, Aziz Mert
  • Minder, Beatrice
  • Schow, Diana

Abstract

Community participation played a crucial role in addressing health inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in reaching marginalized populations and fostering resilience. Amid the wide variation of participatory approaches in community health—from information dissemination to co-decision-making—, there remains a lack of comprehensive analysis on their implementation, impact, and effectiveness. This scoping review synthesizes participatory approaches used during the pandemic, addressing three key gaps: (1) the depth and breadth of participation, (2) the types of communities engaged and the public health issues addressed, and (3) the impact of participation on community health.

Suggested Citation

  • Frahsa, Annika & Liwanag, Harvy Joy & Kobler Betancourt, Cristopher & Ipekci, Aziz Mert & Minder, Beatrice & Schow, Diana, 2025. "A scoping review of community participation in public health research and action during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring approaches on the continuum between utilitarianism and empowerment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 385(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:385:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625008871
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118556
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953625008871
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118556?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Asha S George & Vrinda Mehra & Kerry Scott & Veena Sriram, 2015. "Community Participation in Health Systems Research: A Systematic Review Assessing the State of Research, the Nature of Interventions Involved and the Features of Engagement with Communities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Trickett, E.J., 2011. "Community-based participatory research as worldview or instrumental Strategy: Is it lost in translation(al) research?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(8), pages 1353-1355.
    3. Sarah Ziegler & Alessia Raineri & Vasileios Nittas & Natalie Rangelov & Fabian Vollrath & Chantal Britt & Milo A. Puhan, 2022. "Long COVID Citizen Scientists: Developing a Needs-Based Research Agenda by Persons Affected by Long COVID," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 15(5), pages 565-576, September.
    4. Roels, Nastasja Ilonka & Estrella, Amarilys & Maldonado-Salcedo, Melissa & Rapp, Rayna & Hansen, Helena & Hardon, Anita, 2022. "Confident futures: Community-based organizations as first responders and agents of change in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    5. repec:plo:pone00:0138237 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Kasstan, Ben & Mounier-Jack, Sandra & Gaskell, Katherine M. & Eggo, Rosalind M. & Marks, Michael & Chantler, Tracey, 2022. "“We've all got the virus inside us now”: Disaggregating public health relations and responsibilities for health protection in pandemic London," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Carina Dantas & Juliana Louceiro & Joana Vieira & Willeke van Staalduinen & Oscar Zanutto & Karolina Mackiewicz, 2022. "SHAFE Mapping on Social Innovation Ecosystems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Kim, Hyerang & Shon, Soonyoung & Shin, Hyunsook, 2020. "Exploring the unmet needs for creating an enabling environment for nurturing care to promote migrant child health in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: A theory-guided community-based participatory action research," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Ghouwa Ismail & Ashley Van Niekerk, 2021. "Validation of an Assessment Tool to Measure Psycho-Social Factors Associated With Willingness to Participate in Child-Centered Initiatives," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, September.
    4. Jocelin Y. Lam & Raksha Mahtani & Mohan Dutta & Susana Concordo Harding & Su Aw, 2026. "Enriching and mobilizing participation of Whampoa elder residents: a mixed-methods outcome evaluation of an empowerment-based intervention," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Seye Abimbola & Dorothy Drabarek & Shola K. Molemodile, 2022. "Self‐reliance or social accountability? The raison d'être of community health committees in Nigeria," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(3), pages 1722-1735, May.
    6. Maertens de Noordhout, Charline & Levy, Muriel & Claerman, Rani & de Jaeger, Mats & De Pauw, Robby & Kohn, Laurence & Schönborn, Claudia & Cleemput, Irina, 2025. "Identification of health-related needs: The needs examination, evaluation and dissemination (NEED) assessment framework," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Tremblay, Melissa & Gokiert, Rebecca & Kingsley, Bethan & Mottershead, Karen & Pei, Jacqueline, 2020. "Using developmental evaluation and community-based participatory research to develop a model of supportive housing," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Beatriz Vallina Acha & Estrella Durá Ferrandis & Mireia Ferri Sanz & Maite Ferrando García, 2021. "Engaging People and Co-Producing Research with Persons and Communities to Foster Person-Centred Care: A Meta-Synthesis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-25, November.
    9. Luisi, Daniela & Hämel, Kerstin, 2021. "Community participation and empowerment in primary health care in Emilia-Romagna: A document analysis study," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(2), pages 177-184.
    10. Liz Richardson, 2014. "Engaging the Public in Policy Research: Are Community Researchers the Answer?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 2(1), pages 32-44.
    11. Nina Wallerstein & Leandro L. Giatti & Cláudia Maria Bógus & Marco Akerman & Pedro Roberto Jacobi & Renata Ferraz De Toledo & Rosilda Mendes & Sonia Acioli & Margaret Bluehorse-Anderson & Shelley Fraz, 2017. "Shared Participatory Research Principles and Methodologies: Perspectives from the USA and Brazil—45 Years after Paulo Freire’s “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”," Societies, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-17, April.
    12. Liz Richardson, 2014. "Engaging the Public in Policy Research: Are Community Researchers the Answer?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 2(1), pages 32-44.
    13. Sarah Drew & Keabetswe Khutsoane & Nyasha Buwu & Celia L. Gregson & Lisa K. Micklesfield & Rashida A. Ferrand & Rachael Gooberman-Hill, 2022. "Improving Experiences of the Menopause for Women in Zimbabwe and South Africa: Co-Producing an Information Resource," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, March.
    14. Haldane, Victoria & Singh, Shweta R. & Srivastava, Aastha & Chuah, Fiona L.H. & Koh, Gerald C.H. & Chia, Kee Seng & Perel, Pablo & Legido-Quigley, Helena, 2020. "Community involvement in the development and implementation of chronic condition programmes across the continuum of care in high- and upper-middle income countries: A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(4), pages 419-437.
    15. Junus, Alvin & Kwan, Ching & Wong, Clifford & Chen, Zhansheng & YIP, Paul Siu Fai, 2023. "Shifts in patterns of help-seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Hong Kong's younger generation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    16. Hoon Chuah, Fiona Leh & Srivastava, Aastha & Singh, Shweta Rajkumar & Haldane, Victoria & Huat Koh, Gerald Choon & Seng, Chia Kee & McCoy, David & Legido-Quigley, Helena, 2018. "Community participation in general health initiatives in high and upper-middle income countries: A systematic review exploring the nature of participation, use of theories, contextual drivers and power relations in community participation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 106-122.
    17. Madon, Shirin & Malecela, Mwele Ntuli & Mashoto, Kijakazi & Donohue, Rose & Mubyazi, Godfrey & Michael, Edwin, 2018. "The role of community participation for sustainable integrated neglected tropical diseases and water, sanitation and hygiene intervention programs: A pilot project in Tanzania," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 28-37.
    18. Manou Anselma & Mai J M Chinapaw & Daniëlle A Kornet-van der Aa & Teatske M Altenburg, 2020. "Effectiveness and promising behavior change techniques of interventions targeting energy balance related behaviors in children from lower socioeconomic environments: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, September.
    19. Harro Maat & Dina Balabanova & Esther Mokuwa & Paul Richards & Vik Mohan & Freddie Ssengooba & Revocatus Twinomuhangi & Mirkuzie Woldie & Susannah Mayhew, 2021. "Towards Sustainable Community-Based Systems for Infectious Disease and Disaster Response; Lessons from Local Initiatives in Four African Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:385:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625008871. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.