Vector-Borne Diseases Stakeholder Mapping in Finland : A One Health Approach
Kyöttinen, Anniina (2023)
2023
Master's Programme in Public and Global Health
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2023-03-16
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202302152424
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202302152424
Tiivistelmä
Climate change, increasing human population, urbanization, industrialization and the gradual depletion of natural resources affects the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems around the globe. The complex and wicked health problems arising at the human-animal-ecosystem interphase, such as the (re)emergence, transmission, and management of both novel and traditional zoonoses and vector-born-diseases, requires enhanced multisectoral and multi-leveled interactions and collaboration between different One Health stakeholders.
Previous research in Finland around the topic of vector-borne diseases has primarily been focused on vector, host, and disease epidemiology: changes in disease occurrence and distribution of hosts and vectors, nationally. However very little attention has been given to stakeholder networks studies, information- and resource-sharing, nor on how different VBD actors and stakeholders interact in Finland. Thus, the aim of this master’s thesis is to map and analyze the current and missing stakeholder/actor interactions and information flow related to vector-borne diseases and their management in Finland, within a One Health context. In addition, the objective is also to discuss and reflect on the future of a possible formal VBD/One Health-network in Finland and what are the chances, challenges and means of establishing one. In conclusion, this research plays a pivotal role in addressing the growing issue of vector-borne diseases nationally and globally, in addition to enhancing VBD research, management, surveillance, control and prevention in Finland.
Qualitative semi-structured interviews were chosen as the primary methodology for this master’s thesis. More specifically, a qualitative research method, focusing on identifying actors, resources, multi-actor dynamics and multi-actor interactions (ARDI) was used to analyze the data. The qualitative data in this research consists of 10 semi-structured VBD/OH stakeholder interviews of Finnish professionals collected between October 2021 - December 2021.
The results of this study indicate the importance of multisectoral and multi-leveled stakeholder collaboration related to vector-borne disease research, management, surveillance, control and prevention in Finland. In total 139 potential direct and indirect VBD and One Health stakeholders were identified in this research. Twenty (20) stakeholders, from varying fields were recognized as key VBD/OH actors in Finland. The results in this study suggest that VBD/OH stakeholders in Finland are to some extent interdisciplinary and multisectoral, but the biggest emphasis among different stakeholders still remains in human health, resulting in neglect of other fields of study, especially social sciences and humanities. Currently VBD/OH networks in Finland are mostly built upon unofficial personal connections relying heavily on a few Finnish individual key experts and research projects with external funding, resulting in uncertainty in the continuity of collaborations. There also seems to be a lack of higher-level coordination of VBD/OH collaboration activities in addition to the lack of collaboration between Finnish governmental agencies and other lower-level stakeholders, mainly due to lack of fiscal and human resources. The results of this research indicate that stakeholders’ collaboration with the private sector, independent agencies, NGOs, professional and scientific associations and other foundations in Finland is very limited. Furthermore, all ten interviewed stakeholders unanimously support the formation of a formal VBD/OH network in Finland to enhance stakeholder collaboration, information sharing and data management related to vector-borne diseases in Finland.
The findings of this research strongly suggest the establishment of a formal multidisciplinary and multi-leveled OH vector-borne disease expert network in Finland with higher level coordination and sufficient fiscal and skilled human resources. However, further investigations are still needed to gain a deeper understanding of formal One Health networks in Europe, private actor engagement and public-private partnerships in strengthening VBD management, in addition to investigations on (re)emerging vectors, vector-borne diseases and climate change in Finland.
Previous research in Finland around the topic of vector-borne diseases has primarily been focused on vector, host, and disease epidemiology: changes in disease occurrence and distribution of hosts and vectors, nationally. However very little attention has been given to stakeholder networks studies, information- and resource-sharing, nor on how different VBD actors and stakeholders interact in Finland. Thus, the aim of this master’s thesis is to map and analyze the current and missing stakeholder/actor interactions and information flow related to vector-borne diseases and their management in Finland, within a One Health context. In addition, the objective is also to discuss and reflect on the future of a possible formal VBD/One Health-network in Finland and what are the chances, challenges and means of establishing one. In conclusion, this research plays a pivotal role in addressing the growing issue of vector-borne diseases nationally and globally, in addition to enhancing VBD research, management, surveillance, control and prevention in Finland.
Qualitative semi-structured interviews were chosen as the primary methodology for this master’s thesis. More specifically, a qualitative research method, focusing on identifying actors, resources, multi-actor dynamics and multi-actor interactions (ARDI) was used to analyze the data. The qualitative data in this research consists of 10 semi-structured VBD/OH stakeholder interviews of Finnish professionals collected between October 2021 - December 2021.
The results of this study indicate the importance of multisectoral and multi-leveled stakeholder collaboration related to vector-borne disease research, management, surveillance, control and prevention in Finland. In total 139 potential direct and indirect VBD and One Health stakeholders were identified in this research. Twenty (20) stakeholders, from varying fields were recognized as key VBD/OH actors in Finland. The results in this study suggest that VBD/OH stakeholders in Finland are to some extent interdisciplinary and multisectoral, but the biggest emphasis among different stakeholders still remains in human health, resulting in neglect of other fields of study, especially social sciences and humanities. Currently VBD/OH networks in Finland are mostly built upon unofficial personal connections relying heavily on a few Finnish individual key experts and research projects with external funding, resulting in uncertainty in the continuity of collaborations. There also seems to be a lack of higher-level coordination of VBD/OH collaboration activities in addition to the lack of collaboration between Finnish governmental agencies and other lower-level stakeholders, mainly due to lack of fiscal and human resources. The results of this research indicate that stakeholders’ collaboration with the private sector, independent agencies, NGOs, professional and scientific associations and other foundations in Finland is very limited. Furthermore, all ten interviewed stakeholders unanimously support the formation of a formal VBD/OH network in Finland to enhance stakeholder collaboration, information sharing and data management related to vector-borne diseases in Finland.
The findings of this research strongly suggest the establishment of a formal multidisciplinary and multi-leveled OH vector-borne disease expert network in Finland with higher level coordination and sufficient fiscal and skilled human resources. However, further investigations are still needed to gain a deeper understanding of formal One Health networks in Europe, private actor engagement and public-private partnerships in strengthening VBD management, in addition to investigations on (re)emerging vectors, vector-borne diseases and climate change in Finland.