Brain health promotion and awareness during the Karnataka brain health initiative pilot phase in Karnataka, India

Abstract Background Neurological disorders are leading causes of disability and death, with disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders prioritises awareness, risk reduction and strengthened care pathways within a life-course brain health agenda. Objective To describe the design, implementation strategies and outputs of the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KaBHI) pilot’s brain health promotion and awareness component. Methods This TIDieR-informed descriptive implementation report (Perspective) summarises activities delivered January 2022–May 2023 in three districts of Karnataka, India. Programme documents and monitoring records were synthesised for rationale, audiences, materials, delivery channels, settings, implementers and activity-level outputs, interpreted using selected RE-AIM domains. Results KaBHI developed Kannada- and English-language information, education and communication materials addressing selected neurological conditions and brain health messages. Delivery used radio and YouTube dissemination, public ambassador engagement, theme-based awareness days, community screening camps, participatory DrumJam sessions, school and workplace outreach, and frontline health-worker sensitisation. Outputs included ~ 800 World Brain Day participants (250 dementia-screenings); 467 screened on World Stroke Day (101 requiring counselling/referral; 63 referred, including 27 aged < 30 years); > 150 World Alzheimer’s Day participants; 12 DrumJam sessions (~ 200 participants); and > 1,000 community camp attendees. Indirect reach via broadcast and online posting was documented; deduplicated reach and longitudinal outcomes were not consistently available. Conclusion KaBHI demonstrates a feasible pilot-scale multisectoral approach to embedding brain health promotion within a state neurological public health initiative, supporting future evaluation of reach, equity, stigma, care-seeking, referral completion, rehabilitation uptake and longer-term outcomes.