Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities
Background Ethnic and religious minorities in the UK had a higher risk of severe illness and mortality from COVID-19 in 2020–2021, yet were less likely to receive vaccinations. Two Faith Health Networks (FHNs) were established in London in 2022–2024 as a partnership approach to mitigate health inequ...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMJ Public Health |
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| author | Leonora G Weil Tracey Chantler Ben Kasstan-Dabush Ana Zuriaga-Alvaro Ella Johnson |
| author_facet | Leonora G Weil Tracey Chantler Ben Kasstan-Dabush Ana Zuriaga-Alvaro Ella Johnson |
| author_sort | Leonora G Weil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Ethnic and religious minorities in the UK had a higher risk of severe illness and mortality from COVID-19 in 2020–2021, yet were less likely to receive vaccinations. Two Faith Health Networks (FHNs) were established in London in 2022–2024 as a partnership approach to mitigate health inequalities among Muslim and Jewish Londoners through a health system–community collaboration. By evaluating the FHNs, this study aimed to examine: the organisational processes required for FHNs to serve as a model of interface between health systems and minority communities; the role these networks play in addressing public health inequalities; and implications for their future development and sustainability.Methods A qualitative evaluation of the two FHNs was conducted using semi-structured interviews (n=19) with members of the ‘London Jewish Health Partnership’ and the ‘London Muslim Health Network’. Participant clusters included public health professionals, healthcare workers, community representatives and local government workers.Results The FHNs shared similar structures of leadership, but differed in core membership, which influenced their access to expertise and the activities developed. They were found to perform a key conduit role by integrating expertise from within the health system and faith communities to address the needs and expectations of underserved communities, with the ultimate goal of addressing health inequalities through the design of tailored campaigns and services. Emerging themes for developing an FHN model included enhancing their sustainability by determining funding allocation, strategic integration into health systems and identifying the appropriate geographical scope to sustain their impact. Further implications included recognition of intersectionality, addressing diverse needs within faith communities and trust-building approaches.Conclusion This evaluation offers insights into developing partnership models between faith-based organisations and health sectors to foster relationships with underserved communities. These findings provide valuable considerations for teams navigating the priority of health equity and community engagement as part of our learning from the pandemic to support the development of FHNs across different faith communities, not just for vaccine uptake, but to support the broader health and well-being of communities more widely. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f4aee0a975d04a80a912e75779cc4cc2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2753-4294 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-f4aee0a975d04a80a912e75779cc4cc22025-08-20T03:30:40ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Public Health2753-42942025-05-013110.1136/bmjph-2024-001889Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communitiesLeonora G Weil0Tracey Chantler1Ben Kasstan-Dabush2Ana Zuriaga-Alvaro3Ella Johnson4The NHSE Legacy and Health Equity Partnership, NHS England, London, England, UKThe Vaccine Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UKThe Vaccine Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UKThe NHSE Legacy and Health Equity Partnership, NHS England, London, England, UKThe NHSE Legacy and Health Equity Partnership, NHS England, London, England, UKBackground Ethnic and religious minorities in the UK had a higher risk of severe illness and mortality from COVID-19 in 2020–2021, yet were less likely to receive vaccinations. Two Faith Health Networks (FHNs) were established in London in 2022–2024 as a partnership approach to mitigate health inequalities among Muslim and Jewish Londoners through a health system–community collaboration. By evaluating the FHNs, this study aimed to examine: the organisational processes required for FHNs to serve as a model of interface between health systems and minority communities; the role these networks play in addressing public health inequalities; and implications for their future development and sustainability.Methods A qualitative evaluation of the two FHNs was conducted using semi-structured interviews (n=19) with members of the ‘London Jewish Health Partnership’ and the ‘London Muslim Health Network’. Participant clusters included public health professionals, healthcare workers, community representatives and local government workers.Results The FHNs shared similar structures of leadership, but differed in core membership, which influenced their access to expertise and the activities developed. They were found to perform a key conduit role by integrating expertise from within the health system and faith communities to address the needs and expectations of underserved communities, with the ultimate goal of addressing health inequalities through the design of tailored campaigns and services. Emerging themes for developing an FHN model included enhancing their sustainability by determining funding allocation, strategic integration into health systems and identifying the appropriate geographical scope to sustain their impact. Further implications included recognition of intersectionality, addressing diverse needs within faith communities and trust-building approaches.Conclusion This evaluation offers insights into developing partnership models between faith-based organisations and health sectors to foster relationships with underserved communities. These findings provide valuable considerations for teams navigating the priority of health equity and community engagement as part of our learning from the pandemic to support the development of FHNs across different faith communities, not just for vaccine uptake, but to support the broader health and well-being of communities more widely.https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e001889.full |
| spellingShingle | Leonora G Weil Tracey Chantler Ben Kasstan-Dabush Ana Zuriaga-Alvaro Ella Johnson Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities BMJ Public Health |
| title | Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities |
| title_full | Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities |
| title_fullStr | Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities |
| title_short | Qualitative evaluation of two London Faith and Health Networks: lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities |
| title_sort | qualitative evaluation of two london faith and health networks lessons learnt from a model of an interface between health systems and minority communities |
| url | https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e001889.full |
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