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Community participation within a primary health care programme
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology : Official Organ of Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft and of Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)
|June 1, 1986
Summary
Community participation is key for primary health care (PHC) programs. For schistosomiasis control, engaging communities by addressing their broader health priorities ensures effective and sustainable public health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Tropical Medicine
- Community Health Programs
Background:
- Schistosomiasis control efforts in rural Tanzania highlight the importance of community involvement.
- Primary Health Care (PHC) success is intrinsically linked to active community participation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore effective strategies for fostering community participation in schistosomiasis control within PHC.
- To determine how community priorities influence the integration of disease-specific control into broader health initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of experiences in rural Tanzanian communities.
- Assessment of community-identified health priorities.
- Framework development for multisectorial health approaches.
Main Results:
- Community participation must be problem-oriented, not solely disease-oriented.
- Schistosomiasis is often not a top-ranked community concern.
- Integrating schistosomiasis control into a broader, multisectorial health strategy enhances participation.
Conclusions:
- Effective schistosomiasis control within PHC requires addressing community-defined needs.
- A multisectorial approach is crucial for initiating and sustaining community engagement.
- This integrated strategy can lead to cost-effective public health interventions.