Using anthropological’s tools to formulate an effectiveness action plan for community learning

Abstract

In general, public health activities including nursing care activities are governed by the needs of the community being served. Nurses and public health personnel are required to assess the needs of any given community. Several different tools, including the anthropological tools are used to identify the socio-cultural contexts of the population and their health requirements. Tools that are frequently used for gathering the data, are a community map, genogram, community organ, community calendar, local health system, local history and life story of the people in the community. When all the data are collected, the major health problems facing the people in that community can be identified and effective public health programs can be devised. It is known that common health problems within a community are infectious diseases and chronic conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and Cardio-vascular disease, which can be linked to socio-cultural factors. After the assessment of the community an effective action plan is then developed. Priority for public health programs in the community can be targeted at the most pressing conditions for that community.