Sally StansfieldAdugna Kebede2018-06-202023-11-052018-06-202023-11-051995-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2330A descriptive study was conducted from October1994 to March 1995 to document the patterns and determinants of community participation (CP) in 25peasant 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 morepassive forms of CP, including service utilization(60.9%), attending meetings (44.8%), and contributionof 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 CPoPR 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 technical resources together with utilization of existing mutual self hel psocieties such as funeral societies (Edir) were recommended in order to improve health development programs.enCommunity Participation ,Participatory ResearchThesis