A Community‑Centered Model for Urban Health Promotion: Evidence from Mitchells Plain
1
FaCE, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1472
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Mitchells Plain, a large urban community in Cape Town, faces significant public health challenges, particularly non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and inequities in healthcare access. These patterns reflect national trends in South Africa, where NCD-related morbidity and mortality are high amid structural inequality.¹–³ Despite strong social networks and grassroots activism, many health interventions remain top-down and fail to engage with social determinants of health. Community-driven health promotion forums offer an alternative model aligned with the WHO Ottawa Charter, which emphasizes community action, health literacy, and intersectoral collaboration.⁴–⁷ This case study examines the health promotion forum established in Mitchells Plain in 2025, using qualitative, community-embedded methods. The design is informed by Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC), both emphasizing shared decision-making and integrating public health with primary care. Data sources included observations of pilot initiatives focusing on substance abuse prevention and mental health, along with engagements with activists, schools, clinics, NGOs, and community stakeholders. These processes supported collaborative planning and refinement of activities tailored to local needs. Findings show that the forum significantly strengthened community participation in preventive health activities and fostered local ownership of initiatives. Collaboration among residents, health workers, and partner organizations led to more coordinated, context-responsive interventions and increased access to reliable health information—consistent with evidence from community activism in Cape Town.¹²,¹³ The forum’s activities aligned strongly with Ottawa Charter action areas and COPC principles supporting community-engaged primary care. Overall, the Mitchells Plain experience demonstrates that health promotion forums represent a viable, community-centred approach for improving health outcomes in underserved areas. By enabling shared leadership, intersectoral collaboration, and health-promoting practices in daily life, these forums offer a scalable model for similar South African communities.⁴,⁶,¹⁰
Mitchells Plain, a large urban community in Cape Town, faces significant public health challenges, particularly non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and inequities in healthcare access. These patterns reflect national trends in South Africa, where NCD-related morbidity and mortality are high amid structural inequality.¹–³ Despite strong social networks and grassroots activism, many health interventions remain top-down and fail to engage with social determinants of health. Community-driven health promotion forums offer an alternative model aligned with the WHO Ottawa Charter, which emphasizes community action, health literacy, and intersectoral collaboration.⁴–⁷ This case study examines the health promotion forum established in Mitchells Plain in 2025, using qualitative, community-embedded methods. The design is informed by Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC), both emphasizing shared decision-making and integrating public health with primary care. Data sources included observations of pilot initiatives focusing on substance abuse prevention and mental health, along with engagements with activists, schools, clinics, NGOs, and community stakeholders. These processes supported collaborative planning and refinement of activities tailored to local needs. Findings show that the forum significantly strengthened community participation in preventive health activities and fostered local ownership of initiatives. Collaboration among residents, health workers, and partner organizations led to more coordinated, context-responsive interventions and increased access to reliable health information—consistent with evidence from community activism in Cape Town.¹²,¹³ The forum’s activities aligned strongly with Ottawa Charter action areas and COPC principles supporting community-engaged primary care. Overall, the Mitchells Plain experience demonstrates that health promotion forums represent a viable, community-centred approach for improving health outcomes in underserved areas. By enabling shared leadership, intersectoral collaboration, and health-promoting practices in daily life, these forums offer a scalable model for similar South African communities.⁴,⁶,¹⁰
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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