Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim and University Researchers: Partnering in Community Health Development

Abstract

Applied anthropologists value participatory action research (PAR). In 2008, the Society for Applied Anthropology bestowed the 2008 Bronislaw Malinowski Award upon Orlando Fals-Borda, who is best known for developing the theory and methodology of this approach and his leadership in social and political activism on behalf of and with marginalized communities. Fals-Borda argues that PAR encourages value-driven and collaboratively-conducted research that transforms the relationship between marginalized communities and the organizations that serve them so as to improve their socio-political situation (Fals-Borda and Rahman 1991). Comparably, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the US Department of Health and Human Services has recognized the value of community-based participatory research for both researchers and the community being studied (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2004:1). The Agency has emphasized the importance of academic professionals and community members working together in community-based participatory research as equal partners in developing, implementing, and using research findings to improve local health and healthcare. Community-based participatory research and participatory action research share many features.