Community Participation as an Integral Part of the Biological, Psychosocial, and Social Aspects of the Management of Diseases and Illnesses

Abstract

Community participation is one of the pillars of primary healthcare. In a primary healthcare approach, the community is considered vital to the design, implementation, and evaluation of healthcare services. Ideally, community participation entails efforts to reach underserved community members. Although healthcare service policies promote community participation, there is evidence of major gaps in community members', policymakers', and practitioners' understandings of its purpose, process, and outcomes. Therefore, this chapter will unpack the concept of community participation, firstly by giving broader definitions of community and participation and then explaining typology of community participation as well as the application of community participation in public health initiatives. In addition, the role of community participation in the prevention and management of COVID-19 is discussed.