Community participation within a primary health care programme.

Based on experiences made in rural communities of Tanzania, aspects of community participation in schistosomiasis control within a primary health care (PHC) programme are discussed. Community participation is seen as prerequisite for PHC. Building up community participation can not be disease- or even symptom-orientated, it must be community problem-orientated. The assessment of village priorities as they are recognized by the community governs any control strategy based on PHC. As schistosomiasis is often not first ranking among community problems, schistosomiasis control must become part of a multisectorial approach to improve community health. This process can initiate and ensure community participation and may lead to cost-effective control measures within PHC.