The Contribution of Community Participation to the Realization of the 'Right to Health':

Abstract

The study was carried out in three urban slums settlements namely: Kisenyi, Bwaise and Namuwongo in Kampala Uganda. The main intention was to find out the contribution participation to the realization of ‘the right to health’. A Cross sectional study design was applied involving qualitative and quantitative approaches and there after thematic analysis. The specific intentions were; to determine the forms and level of community participation for health and to investigate the level of community awareness as a determinant of the ‘right to health’ among others. A sample of 154 households and 9 community leaders were randomly selected and studied using interviewer-administered questionnaires and key informants checklists. The key findings indicated that all the forms of community participation at all levels were generally low and similarly, the level of awareness of their right to health was also low at 10% of the expected overall. It was therefore safe to conclude that participation did not effectively contribute to the realization of the right to health and that because majority of the respondents did not understand the meaning and content of ‘the right to health’, it was difficult to apprehend it. This study recommended the deliberate increased sensitization of the community members and other stake holders on the rights to health and their expected roles in its achievement; and similar studies in other areas and findings compared. Areas of further inquiry: social economic status and participation; role of population structure on the right to health and how to ensure and sustain effective participation.