Participatory rural appraisal techniques in disenfranchised communities: a Kenyan case study
International nursing review, 53 (3):
178-188 (September 2006)M3: Article; Accession Number: 21707829; Maalim, A. D. 1; Email Address: dmaalim@yahoo.com; Affiliation: 1: Senior Lecturer and Regional Academic Co-ordinator, Aga Khan University, ANS Program, Regional Office, East Africa, Nairobi; Source Info: Sep2006, Vol. 53 Issue 3, p178; Subject Term: MEDICAL care; Subject Term: NURSING services; Subject Term: SOMALIS; Subject Term: PREVENTIVE health services; Subject Term: MEDICINE, Preventive; Subject Term: PARTICIPATORY rural appraisal; Subject Term: SOMALIA -- Economic conditions; Author-Supplied Keyword: Community; Author-Supplied Keyword: Nomads; Author-Supplied Keyword: Participatory Rural Appraisal; Author-Supplied Keyword: Preventive Health Care; Author-Supplied Keyword: Quality; Number of Pages: 11p; Illustrations: 2 charts, 4 diagrams; Document Type: Article.Abstract
Background: Developing countries have made great progress in the field of health. However, disparities exist in the distribution of healthcare services. Given the lifestyle of the nomadic Somali community, very little was known about their perceptions about preventive healthcare services or their health needs in general. The best source of information regarding these matters is the community itself. Objective: To apply participatory rapid rural appraisal techniques to health needs and plan nursing services for a disenfranchised, nomadic Somali community of north-eastern Kenya. Methods: Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) is an innovative approach to data collection in participatory research. The philosophy is that the researcher is required to acknowledge and appreciate that the research participants have the necessary knowledge and skills to be partners in the whole research process. Illuminating data were collected in late 1999 using PRA techniques, which underscored the Somali community’s perception of the healthcare services and how they could be improved to suit their nomadic lifestyle. Findings: The nomads diagrammatically described their seasonal movements extensively and postulated that these could be used for planning mobile/outreach services for the community. The study also reveals how the current nursing services have failed to utilize the intricate information network of the community. Implications for practice: Nursing personnel need to make friendly participatory relationships with a better understanding of communities’ health problems and their socio-cultural practices in order to ensure efficient and effective nursing services. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR; Copyright of International Nursing Review is the property of Blackwell Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts)
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