Determinants of Community Involvement in Health Partnerships

This work was developed in response to communities’ behavioural adaptation to the Alma Ata conference declaration as well as the community health strategy which stipulated intentions of involving communities actively in addressing their health and development issues. With reference to the Kenya Health Sector Strategic Plan II, 2006 (KHSSP II), the Kenyan situation can be highlighted by the implementation of the community strategy within the health system. Not all community sectors were equally willing or able to become involved in health care decision making (Starzomski, 2002).The aim of this work therefore was to identify and describe the determinants of community involvement in health partnerships. This community based study was conducted in Kakelo Kamroth a sub-location in Rachuonyo District of Kenya employing a cross sectional design using both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The study found that of the 300 households sampled; only 28% of households were involved in health partnerships (HP’s).It is therefore recommended that partners in health consider intensifying community mobilization on the community health strategy right from household level.

Is a member of teaching staff in the Tropical institute of Community Health and Development(TICH)a faculty in the Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Kenya. She holds a Master of Community Health and Development and is currently a Doctorate student in the field of Public Health Nutrition. She is active in research and community health partnerships.