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WS-M27: Introduction and demonstration of participatory social network mapping approaches for health equity
Time:
Monday, 23/June/2025:
1:30pm - 4:30pm
Session Chair: Emily Suzanne Nelson
Session Abstract
There have been calls for system-level interventions that target the redistribution of power within communities to achieve health equity. To develop and assess the effectiveness of these interventions, there is a need for approaches that engage multiple actors within the system to identify and evaluate who has different types of power, how power operates, and how power changes over time. Participatory social network mapping approaches can be used to map the landscape of power and social capital within communities while fostering reflections on how these dynamics shape opportunities to realize health equity. This workshop will review and provide demonstrations of two participatory social network mapping approaches applied within a community-based food systems change intervention and a coalition-based opioid fatality reduction intervention. The session will begin with an overview of the methods used to frame power dynamics within these two different interventions, including terminology applied to define different types of power influencing these two health equity interventions. Next, we will practice applying these methods using egocentric social network analysis to explore connections to different sources of power among local food justice leaders and opioid-focused coalitions. We will examine how these power networks can be understood based on their trustworthiness, collaboration, and influence and how these dimensions of power influence intervention pace, equity, and efficiency. Participants will create their own power maps and explore how these can be analyzed in R. Finally, we will explore how these methods were used to guide food system changes focused on promoting nutrition equity and to inform sustainability of opioid fatality reduction strategies within diverse community settings.
Presentations
Introduction and demonstration of participatory social network mapping approaches for health equity
Darcy Freedman, Owusua Yamoah, Emily Suzanne Nelson
There have been calls for system-level interventions that target the redistribution of power within communities to achieve health equity. To develop and assess the effectiveness of these interventions, there is a need for approaches that engage multiple actors within the system to identify and evaluate who has different types of power, how power operates, and how power changes over time. Participatory social network mapping approaches can be used to map the landscape of power and social capital within communities while fostering reflections on how these dynamics shape opportunities to realize health equity. This workshop will review and provide demonstrations of two participatory social network mapping approaches applied within a community-based food systems change intervention and a coalition-based opioid fatality reduction intervention. The session will begin with an overview of the methods used to frame power dynamics within these two different interventions, including terminology applied to define different types of power influencing these two health equity interventions. Next, we will practice applying these methods using egocentric social network analysis to explore connections to different sources of power among local food justice leaders and opioid-focused coalitions. We will examine how these power networks can be understood based on their trustworthiness, collaboration, and influence and how these dimensions of power influence intervention pace, equity, and efficiency. Participants will create their own power maps and explore how these can be analyzed in R. Finally, we will explore how these methods were used to guide food system changes focused on promoting nutrition equity and to inform sustainability of opioid fatality reduction strategies within diverse community settings.