Youth engagement and social innovation in health in low-and-middle-income countries: Analysis of a global youth crowdsourcing open call

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003394
• Publication Date: 2024-07-18T17:34:37Z
• Authors: Rayner Kay Jin Tan; Wenjie Shan; Eleanor Hummel; Joseph Deji; Yusuf Babatunde; Ronald Mirondo Wa...; Ying Zhang; Yusha Tao; Weiming Tang; Meredith del Pila...; Beatrice Halpaap; Joseph D. Tucker
• Keywords: Crowdsourcing; Mentorship; Thematic Analysis; Youth Engagement; Social Engagement; Community Engagement

Social innovation in health is a ground-up, community-engaged process that draws on the diverse strengths of local individuals to drive social change and improvement. may be particularly useful low middle-income countries ensure effective sustainable solutions. The purpose this study describe findings global youth (18–35 years old) crowdsourcing open call innovations, identify levels engagement such innovations. We organized (Go Youth!) recognize innovations adopted both quantitative qualitative approaches analyze our data. For analyses, we described socio-demographic characteristics who submitted deductive-inductive analytic approach utilizing an adapted Hart’s Ladder as conceptual framework for thematic analysis participants’ submissions, which comprised four engagement: none, minimal, moderate, substantial. received 99 eligible submissions. Most participants were 23 age or older (90.7%), resided LMICs (98.0%), male (64.3%), had bachelor’s higher degree (72.4%). submissions written English (93.9%), located Africa (69.7%), prior implementation (60.2%). A total 39 substantial data suggested leadership peer mentorship other community important aspects engagement. LMIC developed implemented evidence impact effectiveness their communities, illustrating how feasible LMICs. More efforts should made empower these settings spark change.