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

Steps:
➊ GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Take each topic one at a time and get each group to explain what they
produced.
a) BODY MAPS & PRIORITY HEALTH ISSUES – Ask each group to present its priority health issues.
Write up the common issues on a new flipchart and get the group to agree on them. Clarify why
they regard each issue as a priority. (See sample below.)
Priority Issue
HIV and AIDS
Sexually transmitted
infections (STIs)
Cancer – breast,
cervical & uterine
Tuberculosis (TB)
Malaria
Violence against
women
Why Priority?
Leading cause of death. Results – orphans, loss of income and poverty.
Women highly vulnerable to HIV due to lack of power to make decisions
re: sexual activity.
Stigma and lack of knowledge prevents women from getting treatment.
Taboos prevent women from talking about STIs.
Low knowledge about cancer among women and health workers. Lack of
services to detect or treat cancer.
Dangerous, highly stigmatized and highly prevalent among vulnerable
populations such as people living with HIV.
Major cause of death. Affects large % of population. Mosquito nets too
expensive <strong>for</strong> many women.
Experienced by large % women. Major cause of injuries, stress,
depression and HIV.
Note: Use the differences among groups to drive the discussion. For example the women might
name sexually transmitted infections as a priority, while the service providers might not mention
STIs at all. If this happens, ask the group questions, such as: Why have the women rated sexually
transmitted infections as a high priority, while the health workers have not mentioned it? Do the women
go to the health workers <strong>for</strong> treatment, or to the local healers? How can health workers change their
practices so that more women come to them <strong>for</strong> treatment?
b) GAPS IN SERVICES: Use the same process.
c) BARRIERS PREVENTING WOMEN FROM ACCESSING SERVICES
Note: Keep a list of participants’ questions. Explain that a later session will go over these issues and
provide answers.
Chapter C: Facilitating <strong>Community</strong> Assessment Workshops 57