From qualitative community data collection to program design: health education planning in niger

In order to develop health education programs which are adapted to specific sociocultural contexts, in-depth, qualitative data are necessary for program planning. For this purpose, informal data collection techniques are often more appropriate than conventional, formal research methods. In addition to the type of data collection used as a basis for program planning, three other aspects of the program planning process contribute to the quality of programs developed: who is involved in preliminary data collection and program planning; the degree of contact between program planners and target communities; whether program planning is viewed as a top-down, mechanical process or as a collaborative, problem-solving process. This article describes the methodology used to develop a diarrhoeal disease health education program in the Zinder region of Niger in which particular attention was given to these four aspects of the planning process.