Community-Level Indicators of Prevention System Development in Colombia

Introduction

The Community Key Informant Survey (CKIS) assesses prevention system development in communities as indicated by broad representation of key informants from a variety of sectors (e.g., governmental, educational, and law enforcement). CKIS indicators measure theoretical constructs identified in the Communities That Care prevention system; for example, science-based approaches to prevention, community readiness for change, support for prevention, and community norms against adolescent drug use. These constructs serve as system-level indicators of successful change in communities’ prevention systems and as linkages to improved youth outcomes. This poster presents baseline data on prevention system development from five communities in the Department of Quindío in Colombia using an adapted version of the CKIS.

Method

As part of a broader study to adapt and implement the Communities That Care prevention system in Colombia (called Comunidades Que Se Cuidan), portions of the CKIS were translated into Spanish and administered to community key informants in leadership positions (e.g., mayors, police chiefs, school principals) or who had specialized knowledge of prevention-related activities in their communities. Data were collected from 45 respondents across the five communities using in-person interviews, which lasted one hour on average.   

Results

Among respondents, underage alcohol and drug use were rated as the top two community problems among a list of 11 different problems, and 73%, 75%, and 61% thought that it was “easy” for youth in their communities to get alcohol, marijuana, and other hard drugs, respectively. Sixty four percent of respondents thought that the community was willing to try new ideas to solve community problems and 69% were “open” to change. However, 55% and 30% of respondents thought that underage alcohol and marijuana use, respectively, was a “normal part of growing up.” Only 32% of respondents thought that most people in their communities would be willing to pay higher taxes to support prevention efforts and only 30% of respondents were in agreement with the statement that  “most people in the community think that prevention programs work.”

Conclusion

Preliminary results indicate a perception among key informants that there is need and readiness for prevention initiatives in their respective communities. Indicators of support for prevention and norms against youth drug use, however, suggest that there is work to be done in changing the community environment toward science-based prevention. These results suggest that the CKIS can be a valuable measurement tool to assess prevention system development in Colombia and other Latin American countries.