Communact - Slum and Rural Health Initiative

The COMMUNACT Project

From Fear to Action: Community Voices Driving Mpox Response in Nigeria

The COMMUNACT project is a collaborative research project aimed at understanding the factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior for Mpox in Nigeria. The study, co-led by the Slum and Rural Health Initiative (SRHIN) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), seeks to explore the impact of stigma, misinformation, and social inequalities on Mpox-related health decisions.
Through citizen ethnography, in-depth interviews, and deliberative engagement, the project will gather insights from selected communities in Ogun state to improve risk communication and enhance access to healthcare services.

Why this project Matters

Mpox (Monkeypox) continues to challenge public health systems—not because of what we don’t know medically, but because of what we don’t understand socially.

The COMMUNACT Project is a groundbreaking, community-driven study that asks a simple but powerful question:
🗣️ What stops people from seeking help when Mpox strikes?

Our Approach and Project Activites

Discover the various ways we are driving change through community advocacy

Capacity Building for Citizen Ethnographers

17 community members trained as citizen ethnographers to listen, observe, and document real-life perceptions about Mpox.

Community-Led Research

Trained citizen ethnographers deployed to communities to gather in-depth insights through participant observation, and ethnographic note-taking, ensuring that community voices and lived experiences drive the study’s findings.

Stakeholder Engagement

Conducted in-depth interviews with major stakeholders, including healthcare workers, community leaders, and key populations to understand perceptions, challenges, and opportunities for improving Mpox response efforts.

Policy Recommendation & Implementation

Host 4 deliberative engagement workshops with public health officials and communities to develop strategies for improving Mpox-related healthcare uptake.