Community participation for health - an assessment of a community's response [abstract]

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors influencing community participation in promoting community health. METHODS: This operational research project was carried out in the urban community of Air Pipe and Chambers Lanes, St.Andrew. Household heads of 50 percent of the 70 families were interviewed about their health needs, values, resources, cultural beliefs and desire to improve their health status. Community participation in ensuing interventions was observed. RESULTS: Poor water supply reported by 63 percent of family heads interviewed; indiscriminate dumping of refuse and its attendant insect, rodent and odour nuisances and low levels of health literacy were the priority problems identified by the community. Community participation in the process, including relevant solutions, was influenced by a willingness among field personnel to meet with residents at their convenience. Cleaning up of the community, an intervention undertaken, had participation of 75 percent of families subsequent to an agreement that the clean-up would exclude a gully which provided Christmas work for them. Fifty percent of the families signed up for a scheme to bring water supply into their homes. This effort failed due to lack of trust, the presence of laggards in paying the required contributions and, primarily, the withdrawal of outside leadership for sustained efforts at community empowerment. CONCLUSION: Organizing this community for participation in health was facilitated by the social influence of the organizers and respect for community values. The need for sustained efforts at attaining empowerment seems relevant and vital. (AU)