Experiences of volunteers: A volunteer-led community strategy for lung cancer awareness and mobilisation in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

Background: Community health awareness is essential in ensuring communities are well-informed about different health-related challenges and promoting health-seeking behaviour. This approach could be used to address lung cancer knowledge and health-seeking behaviour, which is among the leading causes of cancer-related fatalities in South Africa.
Aim: To provide an insight into the experiences of the Cancer Association of South Africa – Multinational Lung Cancer Control Program volunteers in the implementation of a volunteer-led community strategy for lung cancer awareness and mobilisation.
Setting: The study was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg cities. The Durban sites were Umlazi, Chatsworth, and South Durban Basin, and the Pietermaritzburg sites were Imbali and Sobantu.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using focus group discussions (FGD) where a discussion guide was used. Three FGDs were conducted with 16 project volunteers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
Results: Volunteers shared their insights about the strategy, understanding of their roles, skills development, community acceptance, supportive teamwork and stakeholder involvement and their preferences for community spaces versus door-to-door awareness. Challenges experienced by volunteers included community safety risks, personal safety, inadequate remuneration and intervention strategy restrictions.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for policymakers to recognise the value of a volunteer-led intervention strategy. The challenges faced by volunteers had a direct impact on their job satisfaction and motivation. The study offers strategic insights that should inform the design and implementation of future lung cancer awareness and mobilisation programmes involving volunteers.
Contribution: To inform the development of policy on volunteer-led community strategies for lung cancer awareness and mobilisation in South Africa and similar settings.