Birthing a better future: a mixed-methods evaluation of multimedia exposition conveying the importance of the first 1001 days of life

Background

The early years of life are marked by a crucial period for child development, occurring between conception and 2 years old. The charity, Zero2 Expo, created a multimedia exposition, Birthing a Better Future, to convey a public health message on the importance of the first 1001 days of life and the potential this period holds for intervention measures to have lifelong benefits. This evaluation aimed to determine whether this exposition is effective at raising awareness of the importance of the first 1001 days of life and inform the implementation of future expositions.

Methods

We conducted a realistic evaluation of the exposition pilot in The Corridor Gallery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK, from Nov 12, 2017, to Jan 6, 2018. Participants were selected through convenience sampling from individuals passing through the gallery. Semi-structured interviews led by a topic guide were conducted by a researcher on 6 random days (10% of the pilot's total duration) and feedback questionnaires were freely available. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for qualitative assessment through content analysis in NVivo (version 11), and questionnaire responses were assessed through Likert scales in R statistical software.

Findings

We conducted 12 interviews and collected 19 feedback questionnaires from participants from a range of backgrounds, including parents, the general public, and health-care professionals. Analysis indicated an overall positive response to the exposition. According to a Likert scale, 11 (78·6%) of 14 respondents agreed that the exhibition raised their awareness of the topic. Nine (69·2%) of 13 participants felt that the exhibition affected their knowledge of the topic. 16 (84·2%) of 19 participants agreed that the exposition was thought-provoking. The number of survey respondents varied across questions, since some were implemented after a survey piloting round and therefore have fewer respondents. Interview themes included increased awareness of the importance of the early years of childhood development as well as recommendations for future expositions. Although participants were supportive of the multimedia approach, they believed that art pieces were more impactful than written pieces, a finding that should be considered in future expositions.

Interpretation

This pilot demonstrates the potential of a multimedia exposition to effectively convey public health messages. Future expositions might be valuable for public health communication strategies and hold potential to influence public perceptions of health-related topics.

Funding

Zero2 Expo.