JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Incorporating culturally relevant music can enhance awareness and control in hypertension management and stroke preparedness. The Music4Health initiative created music-driven campaigns focused on youth and their caregivers. We outlined the components of songs developed through community participation to raise awareness about hypertension and stroke preparedness. The project was conducted in three phases: an open call, a designathon, and a bootcamp. From October 2023 to July 2024, a crowdsourcing open call was launched online and in person. Teams and individuals submitted ideas for creatively disseminating evidence-based prevention strategies for hypertension and stroke through music. Fifteen participants were invited to a 3-day designathon to refine their songs with expert mentors. The final phase, a bootcamp, involved community assessment and intensive workshops with the top six teams to develop and record complete songs with experts and producers. The lyrics from the bootcamp were analyzed using rapid thematic analysis guided by the PEN-3 cultural model, focusing on Relationships and Expectations and Cultural Empowerment domains. Thematic analysis of the seven finalist songs from the bootcamp identified themes using two PEN-3 model domains. The Relationship and Expectations domains included perceptions of hypertension severity, myths about hypertension (like the role of “juju”), and the necessity for healthy coping strategies. Enablers focused on the availability of hypertension prevention strategies, such as healthy diets, stress management, and avoidance of smoking. Nurturers emphasized raising awareness about hypertension among families, adopting healthy practices for loved ones, and the role of peers in promoting healthy habits. Unique cultural aspects included using Afrobeat and Fuji beats, pidgin English, and references to spirituality in adopting health practices. Culturally centered music may be an appealing channel for promoting the uptake of evidence-based health interventions. This study highlights the feasibility of using participatory approaches to co-create health dissemination strategies, leveraging music's cultural relevance and appeal to engage youth and their caregivers in hypertension and stroke prevention.