The concept of health promotion in Fiji

This paper sets out to describe stakeholders' views of the concept of health promotion in Fiji. METHOLODOLOGY: Sixty-one semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out with participants from all levels of the health sector (National, Divisional, Sub-Divisional and zonal) as well as community members and other sectors that had an involvement in health promotion. Data collected was analysed using grounded theory following the process outlined by Strauss and Corbin.

Participants described a concept of health promotion in Fiji that provides a sophisticated and effective framework for action to improve health. The immediate implication of this paper is that participants view the processes and structures for health promotion in Fiji as currently insufficient to fully implement the concept of health promotion articulated. In particular, the call for health promotion to be at the center of development is not matched by the action required at a regional and national level, the building of staff and community capacity is often ineffective in its current sporadic and intermittent form and the reorientation of the health sector has been hampered by the perception of the health sector as service providers rather than facilitators.

To fully implement the concept of health promotion in Fiji, more attention needs to be given to the processes and structures that direct and support health promotion action. Specifically, there is a need to develop implementation strategies that provide required and timely inputs during the development and ongoing implementation of health promotion activity. This can be achieved by engaging relevant sectors, investing sufficient time and resources into building staff and community capacity and better defining responsibilities.