ECHO Discovery Summary

Community Engagement and Report Back: the Story of PROTECT-ECHO in Puerto Rico

Carmen M. Vélez Vega, PhD, MSW of the University of Puerto Rico gave a presentation where she discussed the PROTECT-ECHO project in Puerto Rico. PROTECT (Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats) began in 2010 with the goal of understanding why Puerto Rico was ranked third in the world for highest preterm births.

Dr. Vélez Vega’s presentation covered how her team implemented community engagement and a report back system for the success of the project.

“The PROTECT Center studies exposures to environmental contamination in Puerto Rico and its contribution to preterm births,” Dr. Vélez Vega said. Investigators took samples from pregnant women to look at the health effects of environmental contaminants such as phthalates and chlorinated solvents in relation to high preterm birth rates. The cohort became part of the ECHO Program in 2017.

The Significance of Participant Engagement

To ensure high participant engagement, the project team implemented a report back system via a project-specific smartphone application. Throughout sample collection and participation, there was an emphasis on cultural identity and getting an accurate snapshot of typical foods eaten and household cleaning supplies used.

Participants utilized the mobile phone app to create personal profiles where they could view their results and analyses, along with recommendations on how to reduce environmental and chemical exposures. Women were also able to share their experiences with each other, and play an active role in providing feedback to investigators. Dr. Vélez Vega noted the high level of participant interest is because pregnant women want to contribute to science and understand why premature births are happening to them and their families.

Community Engagement and the COVID-19 Response

The main vehicle of interaction with community stakeholders and participants throughout PROTECT-ECHO is the Community Engagement Core (CEC). This group utilizes participation and engagement resources to gather feedback and disseminate information to stakeholders throughout the community.

The CEC was extremely helpful to investigators following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during other events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, Zika virus outbreaks, and the evolving demographics of Puerto Rico. Since computer access is limited due to socioeconomic factors, natural disasters, and health events, call centers were set up for investigators to follow up with participants. The project team also utilized outreach methods such as text messaging, and provided educational materials to participants via email and social media.

Dr. Vélez Vega and the project team are currently working on the PROTECT Responde Campaign to feature videos, educational materials, and resources on environmental contaminants and health impacts during COVID-19 via social media. This will allow participants and community members in Puerto Rico to learn more about how to keep themselves healthy throughout pregnancy and potentially reduce rates of preterm birth for themselves and family members.

Speaker:

Dr. Carmen M. Vélez Vega

University of Puerto Rico

Speaker Bio: Dr. Vélez Vega completed a PhD. in Social Policy Research and Analysis, Graduate School of Social Work, at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus, and a MSW, and BSW from Florida State University School of Social Work. She is Faculty at the Doctoral Program in Social Determinants of Health of the Social Sciences Department at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, School of Public Health, and is a tenured Associate Professor. She has ample experience in community engagement activities and teaches in this area in the Schools MPH and Doctorate programs. She is the on site PI for PROTECT (Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats) and ECHO Cohort. She leads the Community Engagement Core for PROTECT and the Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities at the University of Puerto Rico. For the past 20 years she has been active in working for human rights especially for the the LGBTQ community in Puerto Rico.

Date: Wednesday, July 14th, 1 to 2pm ET