How did the authors use community assessment tools to tackle a public health issue relevant to the community?
The authors realize that communities are the ones that are most affected by any public health issue that arises. For this reason, it is essential then to use community assessment tools, which allow the community members to participate in the information gathering and policymaking. In particular, the authors establish that communities are demanding to speak for themselves since environmental pollution is not a technical problem to be left to professionals. According to Coburn (2005), the lay public, professionals cannot prioritize problems as they are directly affected by them. The communities thus demand greater inclusion in describing, researching, and prescribing a solution for environmental hazards.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The community assessment tool that the authors used is community-based participatory research (CBPR) that focuses on underserved groups and geographical areas. These individuals are considered to be invaluable as they are the ones who are most affected by public health issues. BPR as an assessment tool not only identifies the most vulnerable populations, but it aims at empowering them through capacity building. In this case, the local communities become better off after the assessment process as they experience an improved relationship with the outsiders who include professionals, government agencies, and academics.
What role did local knowledge play in the implementation of the project and its outcomes?
Local knowledge, which is also referred to as ‘contextual intelligence’, plays a crucial role in the implementation of public-health related projects. According to Coburn (2005), local knowledge has contributed to the formulation of resource-management practices that are more sustainable especially in developing knowledge. World Bank, which has established that local people are endowed with scientific practices, and knowledge affirm this claim by asserting thee knowledge would be valuable to professionals. Additionally, local knowledge is critical as it helps professionals to understand how the locals' daily experiences influenced mortality, morbidity, and access to health-promoting resources.
Reference
Corburn, J. (2005). Street Science: Community Knowledge and Environmental Health Justice. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
