Critical reflections on social injustice and participatory action research: The case of the indigenous Ayta community in the Philippines

Abstract

Indigenous communities generally tend to have poorer health outcomes than their non-indigenous counterparts. Tackling such health inequalities requires a holistic approach that can enable community members take control over the factors that influence their lives. This paper reflects some of the insights raised from a participatory action research with a small indigenous Ayta community in the Philippines which aimed to generate community-based knowledge to inform and provoke social action. In the process, community action was mobilized but incidence of hostility and aggression also occurred. This raises several ethical issues concerning the use of participatory action research in development work and its consequences for the health and welfare of those communities we aim to engage.