Fostering Community Engagement and Acquiring Understanding of Health Needs through a Participatory Rural Appraisal in Haiti

Background: Haiti has a population of 10 million people, and is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Individuals living in rural and geographically isolated areas of Haiti are particularly vulnerable to chronic illness secondary to unmet health needs. Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA) can be conducted to rapidly gain knowledge while empowering locals to participate in the identification and prioritization of their health needs.

Objectives: The purpose of this report was to gain a more thorough understanding of the comprehensive health needs of the rural village of Beloc, Haiti, and to engage and empower the community to be effective agents of change. Results of this appraisal will be used to develop a sustainable community-based health intervention.

Methods: PRA methodology was conducted in one geographically isolated village in Haiti. The research team trained local participants to implement PRA tools to collect data from their community. United States and Haitian participants collaboratively conducted the PRA activities, analyzed results, and shared findings within the community.

Results: Key findings from this research include validation of the use of the PRA method to gain a deeper understanding of the needs of a community before developing a community-based health intervention. Needs were identified, prioritized, and used as the framework for a collaborative action plan.

Conclusions: The PRA process was an effective strategy to engage and empower the community leaders to identify, define, and prioritize their resources, goals, and areas for growth. This article discusses the process, advantages, challenges, and implications of a participatory health assessment.