Community Based Participatory Research

Community Based Participatory Research

Introduction

The purpose of this proposed research study is to provide a synthesis of the elements and benefits of community based participatory research. It also aims to discuss the role of community and use of this research approach in improving the public health. The research study is expected to provide useful insight on how the community based participatory research process aims to improve the health and environmental issues of the community. Thus the study has significant value for both the researchers and community being studied. The study is of particular interest for the public health professionals and academics as it addresses the persistent issues and disparities in health care. These include the factors of economic and social status, membership of ethnic group or lack of health insurance (Wallerstein, 2000).

The area of public health undertakes many social and environmental factors in order to determine the health status of community. The key purpose of this area of health is to identify and address the problems of health by involving the public itself. With the passage of time, this area has focused on the individual rather than environmental and social risk factors. Also practitioners and researchers emphasize on the ecological approach which proposes that individuals are embedded within social, political and economic systems. Thus to maintain the health of these individuals, the access to resources and behavior of community are important to be addressed. This also calls for integration of intervention with applied research (Wing, 2002). Thus community involvement is highly recommended in order to shape the intervention processes in alignment to research. This is achieved by forming partnerships between the health services, academic institutions and community based organizations. The integration of all the mentioned elements to form partnerships in order to carry out research based practice has opened new dimensions of public health. Also more opportunities of funding are emerging as the research and practice are combined to form community-based/involved/participatory/ collaborative/centered- research.

Community Based Participatory Research

This research approach is different from other research approaches as it views the community as a social entity in which the community is considered as the location or setting. Also the community members are considered to be sharing the identity and values. Thus through the collective engagement, problem solving capacity of community is strengthened that improves the research process and outcomes. Community based participatory research is explained as the collaborative approach in which multiple partners are involves with equal responsibility (US Department Of Health And Human Services, 2003). These partners work mutually to understand the social and cultural dynamics of the community and then integrate the collected information into the health interventions. Thus members contribute their unique skills in order to improve the health of community. It is also defined as the systematic inquiry by involving those who are affected by the issue. The research also aims to educate about the issue and proposes the actions that lead to social changes through implementation of the research ...