| dc.description.abstract | Community-based participatory strategies are collaborative approaches that equitably involve all
partners in the process and recognize the unique strengths that each brings. The Alma Ata
Declaration in 1978 framed community participation as central to primary health care. One of the
community-based structures in the health system in Zambia is “Neighbourhood Health
Committees” (NHCs). The NHCs embraces Community Based Health Workers/volunteers,
(CBHWs), and all other members locally trained and working in their own communities. These
are involved in the planning and implementation of community health action planned activities.
Even though studies have been done on community-based health activities implemented in the
Communities either pulled or pushed, not much has been done to assess the level of participation
of Neighbourhood Health Committees (NHCs) in developing and implementation of Community
Health Action Plans. A qualitative narrative approach of the Community participatory design
was used. Data was collected using five (5) focus group discussions consisting of 8-10 members
from each NHC in the respective RHC catchment area. Six key informant interviews for health
Centre in charges, 51 NHC community participatory interviews were conducted.
Community level participation and involvement in the development and implementation of
community action plans qualitative assessment revealed that 46/51 NHC members are actively
involved by their health Centre in implementation of Community based health activities, but not
all are actively involved in the development of community health action plans, 5/51 are inactive
NHC members. The study also revealed that 31/51 NHC members are actively participating in
NHC activities, while 15/51 are inactive due to various reasons such as;- lack of support given
to volunteers, no transport, lack of information flow and feedback from the health Centre. The
study also observed that most of the NHC membership feel left out in the implementation of
Community based activities hence not actively participating in the development and full
implementation of Community health action plans due to poor information dissemination. It was
observed that if community involvement and participation is to improve there should be proper
and enhanced information dissemination from the Health facilities to the Neighbourhood Health
Committee.
Key words: - Neighbourhood Health Committees, Community action plans, Community based
participatory approaches | en |
