Guide for Community Assessments on Women's Health Care - ICRW

Why was this <strong>Guide</strong> developed?
In 2006 the Parliamentarians <strong>for</strong> Women’s Health project, in partnership with the parliamentarians,
HIV-positive women and civil society organizations, organized community assessments in Kenya
and Namibia to gather grassroots in<strong>for</strong>mation and develop analysis on women’s health care to
support the related initiatives of MPs. The assessments consisted of several one-day workshops with
different stakeholder groups, including HIV-positive women, non-positive women, service providers
and community leaders, and gauged their opinions on women’s priority health concerns, the gaps
between needs and service delivery, and barriers to women’s health care.
This activity was successful and produced a number of important results. It created:
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An opportunity <strong>for</strong> MPs to develop firsthand knowledge about the problems women face in
accessing health care, including specific problems <strong>for</strong> women with HIV.
An opportunity <strong>for</strong> women to learn more about health issues, including the importance of
simple but potentially life-saving prevention measures, such as an annual pap smear.
A plat<strong>for</strong>m <strong>for</strong> rural women to raise their concerns with MPs and be listened to, so they could
bring their voices and analysis to the national health care response.
A new relationship between the MPs and rural women. As a result of the community
assessment process, the women began to see MPs as an advocate <strong>for</strong> their issues.
● ● A vehicle <strong>for</strong> empowerment, strengthening the awareness, self-esteem and organizational
strength of rural women, particularly women with HIV.
● ● A dialogue and mutual process of learning between HIV-positive women and MPs to <strong>for</strong>ge an
ongoing relationship of joint advocacy and action.
● ● The <strong>for</strong>mation of a working group of HIV-positive women who monitor health services and
work closely with MPs to lobby <strong>for</strong> ways to improve health services.
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A number of MP initiatives to establish new parliamentary committees and develop new
policies to address women’s issues.
● ● A number of community initiatives by the participants to plan and implement local actions <strong>for</strong>
change to improve women’s health care.
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A methodology to collect data and analysis in other regions and on other topics (e.g.,
education). MPs currently are using this methodology in their work.
Given the success of the community assessment process, project staff sought to share its
methodology and experience with MPs and organizations in other countries, with the hope that they
might initiate similar community assessments on women’s health issues.
Who is the <strong>Guide</strong> <strong>for</strong>?
The guide is <strong>for</strong> individuals and organizations that are working to improve women’s health care. This
group includes parliamentarians and organizations of people living with HIV, and those who are
working on health and HIV/AIDS issues, women’s rights and human rights.
How can the <strong>Guide</strong> be used?
This guide will help you plan and implement a participatory process to assess women’s health needs
and concerns at the community level. You can do this on a collaborative basis, working with HIVpositive
women, civil society organizations and MPs. Chapter B shows you how to plan the process,
and Chapter C details how to run the community workshops.
10 Chapter A: Introduction