A Neuroscience-Informed Approach to Community Resilience Against Gender-Based Violence in Southern Ecuador
1
Public Health Sciences, PEAK15health, Zug, Switzerland
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Ecuador faces an epidemic of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), with prevalence rates near 70% (1). Underserved regions, characterized by low infrastructure and rural settings, suffer from a critical lack of knowledge and resources to counter rising GBV/VAWG (2,3). The EcoJusta programme, as part of the EU Spotlight Initiative 2.0, aims to bridge these gaps by strengthening community resilience, and long-term public health literacy using behavioural-neuroscience techniques (mental resilience), and community-led dissemination strategies.
METHODS:
This mixed-methods educational intervention is planned for 2026–2027 in the Azuay province of Southern Ecuador, a region of high vulnerability. The five-phased approach begins with Phase 0: Baseline Community Understanding (gathering challenges and coping strategies via participatory focus groups) and community mapping (ethnography) for current-to-next generation Catalysts and subsequent Community Health Advocates (CHAs). Key development phases include: Phase 1: PEAK15health Expert Panel Consensus (PECP) Development (using modified-Delphi to compile expert knowledge); and Phase 2: Co-creation and Programme Curriculum Development. This development will integrate PECP consensus, focusing on: (a) behavioural-neuroscience modules for emotional regulation and resilience; (b) mobile-based micro-learning; and (c) establishing peer-support referral linkages. The intervention concludes with Phase 3: Programme Roll-out and Monitoring and Phase 4: Long-term Monitoring, Evaluation, and Scale-up (assessing outcomes via PECP indicators, measuring inter-/intra-generational knowledge dissemination). Results (Expected): By the end of 2026, the programme expects to train at least 50 CHAs in micro-learning modules, projecting up to 20% increase in public health knowledge and resilience scores. By end-2027, over 500 CHAs will be trained, strengthening community mental health psychosocial support referrals.
CONCLUSIONS:
The EcoJusta programme presents a novel, neuroscience-informed public health education and resilience model. It emphasizes the importance of global and local knowledge equity, community participation, sustainability, and strengthened referral pathways, offering a scalable blueprint for combating GBV/VAWG in Ecuador and internationally.
Ecuador faces an epidemic of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), with prevalence rates near 70% (1). Underserved regions, characterized by low infrastructure and rural settings, suffer from a critical lack of knowledge and resources to counter rising GBV/VAWG (2,3). The EcoJusta programme, as part of the EU Spotlight Initiative 2.0, aims to bridge these gaps by strengthening community resilience, and long-term public health literacy using behavioural-neuroscience techniques (mental resilience), and community-led dissemination strategies.
METHODS:
This mixed-methods educational intervention is planned for 2026–2027 in the Azuay province of Southern Ecuador, a region of high vulnerability. The five-phased approach begins with Phase 0: Baseline Community Understanding (gathering challenges and coping strategies via participatory focus groups) and community mapping (ethnography) for current-to-next generation Catalysts and subsequent Community Health Advocates (CHAs). Key development phases include: Phase 1: PEAK15health Expert Panel Consensus (PECP) Development (using modified-Delphi to compile expert knowledge); and Phase 2: Co-creation and Programme Curriculum Development. This development will integrate PECP consensus, focusing on: (a) behavioural-neuroscience modules for emotional regulation and resilience; (b) mobile-based micro-learning; and (c) establishing peer-support referral linkages. The intervention concludes with Phase 3: Programme Roll-out and Monitoring and Phase 4: Long-term Monitoring, Evaluation, and Scale-up (assessing outcomes via PECP indicators, measuring inter-/intra-generational knowledge dissemination). Results (Expected): By the end of 2026, the programme expects to train at least 50 CHAs in micro-learning modules, projecting up to 20% increase in public health knowledge and resilience scores. By end-2027, over 500 CHAs will be trained, strengthening community mental health psychosocial support referrals.
CONCLUSIONS:
The EcoJusta programme presents a novel, neuroscience-informed public health education and resilience model. It emphasizes the importance of global and local knowledge equity, community participation, sustainability, and strengthened referral pathways, offering a scalable blueprint for combating GBV/VAWG in Ecuador and internationally.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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