Creating a Scalable Training Manual for Community Mobilizers Supporting Youths Participating in Global Dialogues' Narrative Contest about Intimate Partner Violence in Nicaragua Open Access

Kokubun, Caroline Wang (2017)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/2b88qc865?locale=en
Published

Abstract

Low- and middle-income countries that lack the health infrastructure and capacity to treat mental illness require innovative approaches for the delivery of mental health and psychosocial support services. Various forms of narrative therapy have been developed to reduce symptoms of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Narrative development engages cognitive processes such as critical reflection and meaning-making that are similarly activated through transformative learning, an approach to adult education that has been used to build capacity and transform communities in developing countries. As a vehicle of generating social awareness and promoting behavior change, Global Dialogues' international narrative contest challenges young people from around the world to create compelling narratives and participate in dialogue surrounding sensitive and taboo topics such as intimate partner violence. Using a transformative learning approach, we created a manual to train contest mobilizers in Nicaragua to support the development of narratives for the contest and to facilitate a safe learning environment through contest participation for young people who may have previously experienced trauma due to intimate partner violence or who may be indirectly exposed to it. The manual was developed based on a literature review of transformative learning theory, narrative therapy, and the cultural context of intimate partner violence in Nicaragua. Based on feedback from participants in a pilot training workshop and our implementing partner in Matagalpa, we revised the manual to be concise, to incorporate linkages to more accessible local resources, and to clarify concepts by drawing from more familiar constructs and frames of reference. The manual was well received overall in its pilot test. A rigorous impact evaluation of the manual is required to investigate any potential association between the use of the manual by contest mobilizers and the mental health and emotional wellness of contest participants.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Chapter I: Introduction...........................................................................................................1

Introduction and Significance......................................................................................................1

Figure 1: WHO Service Organization Pyramid for an Optimal Mix of Services for Mental Health ............2

Problem Statement....................................................................................................................4

Purpose Statement....................................................................................................................4

Definition of Terms and Abbreviations..........................................................................................5

Chapter II: Literature Review.................................................................................................6

The Transformative Learning Approach........................................................................................6

Narrative Therapy.....................................................................................................................9

Narrative Development and Story-Telling for Trauma....................................................................11

Intimate Partner Violence in Nicaragua.......................................................................................13

Chapter III: Methods.............................................................................................................15

Development of Manual Curriculum and Content..........................................................................15

Pilot Test................................................................................................................................16

Figure 2: Timeline of Pilot Test..................................................................................................17

Data Collection Instruments......................................................................................................17

Data Analysis..........................................................................................................................18

Chapter IV: Results...............................................................................................................19

Manual Curriculum and Content.................................................................................................19

Figure 3: Manual Development Logic Model.................................................................................20

Table 1: Original Manual Outline................................................................................................24

Manual Pilot Test.....................................................................................................................26

Questionnaire 1.......................................................................................................................27

Questionnaire 2.......................................................................................................................29

Key Informant Interview...........................................................................................................31

Manual Revisions.....................................................................................................................31

Table 2: Revised Manual Outline................................................................................................33

Chapter V: Discussion............................................................................................................36

Strengths and Limitations.........................................................................................................36

Recommendations...................................................................................................................38

Conclusion..............................................................................................................................40

References............................................................................................................................42

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Keyword
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Committee Members
Partnering Agencies
Last modified

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files