Abstract
The study aimed to describe the practice of community involvement in health programmes. The study therefore explored the nature and practice of community involvement in health programmes in the two communities in KwaZulu Natal. The study was guided by the conceptual framework adapted from Arnstein's,(1969) Ladder of Citizen Participation. This framework shows different levels and steps in community participation. A case study method was used to conduct the study. The two cases were one urban based and one rural based community health centers in the Ilembe health district, in Kwa Zulu Natal. A sample of 31 persons participated in the study. The sample comprised 8 registered nurses, 2 enrolled nurses 13 community members and 8 community health workers. Data was collected using structured individual interviews and focus group interviews, and was guided by the case protocol. Community involvement in health largely depended on the type of community, with rural community members being in charge of their health projects and urban community members helping each other as neighbours in times of need.
Highlights
Community involvement in health (CIH) plays an important role in rendering primary health care (PHC) services to the community
The community members and health professionals had differing views on the levels at which the members were involved in health
The rural community members felt that they were in charge of their health projects where they were working with out the health professionals
Summary
Community involvement in health (CIH) plays an important role in rendering primary health care (PHC) services to the community. The community can help to plan PHC activities and can co-operate fully when these activi ties have been carried out This ap proach emphasizes that, in PHC col laborations, residents and health pro viders need to work in partnership as they each have their area and level of expertise. In this partnership, it is ar gued, health professionals and commu nity constituents will share responsi bilities, decision making and commit ment to interventions and outcomes to im prove the co m m u n ity ’s health (Porsche, 2004:147) The basic characteristics of the con cept of community participation are that .
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