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

1. Public Health Associations experience of influencing national public health policy and practice Stephen Knight, Waasila Jassat & Laetitia Rispel 13th World Congress on Public Health Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 23 April 2012

2. 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 Conference

3. 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

4. Results • 20 responses • 18 English; 2 French • 17 associations ; 3 non-members

5. Response • In existence for 0 – 10 yrs 8 11 - 40 yrs 9 > 40 yrs 3 • Membership numbers < 100 7 100 – 999 7 1000 – 4999 4 5000+ 2 • employed staff & office space 70%

6. 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

7. Organisational development

8. Main sources of revenue

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

10. Policy engagement • Policy on engaging govt 7 • Training/ manuals on policy influence 3 • Dedicated policy staff 6 • Who decides on policy? • Executive members – volunteer time

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

16. 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)

18. 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

20. 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

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