Community Participation and the Effect of Participatory Research In South-Western Ethiopia
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Date
1995-05
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
A descriptive study was conducted from October
1994 to March 1995 to document the patterns and
determinants of community participation (CP) in 25
peasant associations in Seka Chekorsa Woreda. An
experimental component of the study tested the effect
of participatory research (PR) on the measurement and
promotion of CPo
The study address the barriers to fuller
communities participation in health development
activities despite the high demand from the health
sector.
Over half (52.5%) of community members reported
participation in health activities within the preceding
month. Most common forms of participation reported
were contribution of labor (31.2%) or materials (11.9%)
and attending meetings regarding health development
(29.9%). Communities were most likely to identify more
passive forms of CP, including service utilization
(60.9%), attending meetings (44.8%), and contribution
of material or labor (33.9%) Few (11.2%) indicated
that CP implied involvement in decision making and
planning. Key barriers to promotion of CP in health
included poor community awareness of roles and
responsibilities, lack of technical and financial
resources, and lack of strategies and organizational
structures to promote CPo
PR was effective in increasing community awareness
of CP, and in increasing rates of participation,
including through attending meetings and through
decision making and planning. Strengthening CP through
the development of clear strategies and policies and
decentralization of financial and technicial resources
together with utilization of existing mutual self hel p
societies such as funeral societies (Edir) were
recomended in order to improve health development
programs.
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Keywords
Community Participation and the Effect of Participatory Research