Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that disproportionately affects Indigenous populations. Tailored awareness and management strategies are crucial for reducing the prevalence of SCD and improving its management. Existing awareness campaigns are inadequate and are often devoid of cultural appropriateness, local language, and evidence-based content/design. There is a dearth of knowledge on what constitutes effective health communication for these communities. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine existing SCD-related knowledge, its sources, and the health communication-supportive infrastructure among the Soliga community in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It will identify any established health communication strategies used for and/or by Indigenous communities, assessing their strengths and limitations. Additionally, the study seeks to understand community preferences for health communication, including language, content, and delivery. Insights from these findings will guide the development of a comprehensive and practical health communication guide for SCD. METHOD: The study employs a mixed-methods approach following the triangulation design by Creswell and Plano Clark (2007). The study begins with a community-based survey to assess existing SCD knowledge, information sources, and communication-supportive infrastructure within the Soliga community. Next, a scoping review will identify global health communication strategies for Indigenous populations, supplemented by Focus Group Discussions with community stakeholders to explore preferences for culturally appropriate communication methods. The insights from these stages will guide the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based guide for effective SCD-related health communication tailored to Indigenous populations. DISCUSSION: This study explores ways to advance culturally appropriate, evidence-based health communication strategies. It will address the knowledge gap in effective SCD communication for Indigenous communities by emphasising the role of community preferences. This study's outcomes aim to guide future health communication campaigns, ultimately enhancing SCD awareness and management among Indigenous populations.