Public Health Associations experience of influencing national public health policy and practice

Thandi PuoaneAPHA 140th Annual Meeting

San Francisco, CA October 27-31, 2012

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• No relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose

• Thandi Puoane, University of the Western Cape, South Africa – PHASA

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PRESENTER DISCLOURES

Background to Survey• Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA)

– In operation for 12 years– Successes include

• Holding annual conference• Relatively financially viable• Regular newsletter and webpage (http://www.phasa.org.za)• Active executive & paid secretariat

• Extensive debate in last four years on influencing public health policy nationally

– Lacked resources or capacity to do so effectively– Key strategic goals

• WFPHA Conference3

Methods• Studied finding of 2011 WFPHA survey• Questionnaire prepared

– Input from CPHA– Closed ended questions– Only in English and French

• Internet based• Executed by WFPHA secretariat who requested

members to complete questionnaire• Reminders sent

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Results• 20 responses

– 18 English; 2 French– 17 associations ; 3 non-members

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Response• In existence for

0 – 10 yrs 811 - 40 yrs 9> 40 yrs 3

• Membership numbers< 100 7100 – 999 71000 – 4999 45000+ 2

• employed staff & office space 70% 6

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Organisational development

• Organised a conference 14• Skills building workshops 11• Seminars / symposia 14 • Involved in public health days 4• Newsletter 13• Electronic newsletter 10• Webpage 12

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Organisational development

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Main sources of revenue

• Use of partnerships / networks / coalitions– Special interest groups 7– Non-governmental organisation 17– Other professional organisations 16– Other (youth groups, civil society orgs)

Partnerships

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• Policy on engaging govt7

• Training/ manuals on policy influence 3• Dedicated policy staff 6• Who decides on policy?

– Executive members – volunteer time

Policy engagement

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Other (letter writing campaigns, journal, implementation research, demonstration projects, parliamentary committees, through coalitions)

Policy engagement

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Policy Issues engaged in

Other (tobacco control, alcohol, nutrition, injury prevention, HIV, NCD prevention and control, gun control, safe injection, development assistance framework, health information through census) 17

Recommendations for policy influence• Organisational development

– Working groups focused on specific public health issues– Develop advocacy skills– Maintain an independent, politically non-partisan

stance/position • Research and Knowledge sharing

– Ensure evidence-informed positions on issues – Connect academics to policy making– Facilitate and support public health research– Understand who your audience is and how to

communicate with them 19

Limitations• Time constraints

– Short period for response– No time for piloting– Lack of Portuguese translation– Could not delve into qualitative aspects of the “art

of influence”

• Poor response to questionnaire

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Conclusions• Few PHAs actively involved in policy

engagement with governments• Need to develop skills, policy and practice in this

field• Need to share experiences• Addressing resource availability for policy

influence

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Acknowledgements• Ulrich Laaser• Jim Chauvin• Laetitia Bourquin• Marta Lomazzi

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