Sociological aspects of community-based health intervention programmes. The North Karelia Project as an example.

The article considers the sociological aspects of community based health intervention programmes using the North Karelia Project as an example. Health programmes are still in the process of institutionalisation. This means that unlike long established disciplines they do not yet have a well-established methodology, clear research evaluation criteria, or known laws or invariances. The social characteristics of health intervention programmes are considered. They may be regarded as action research. A basic dilemma in the aims of health intervention programmes is emphasized; on the one hand to produce a change in the behavior and health status of the population, and on the other hand to discover the laws or invariances, governing them. The solution of this conflict affects the goals, methods and organisation of the programme and is also important in the evaluation of the outcome. The North Karelia Project, like other health intervention programme was launched and given legal force for medical reasons based on epidemiological research into risk factors. However, behaviour affecting health involves many other dimensions than the medical one. The social determinants and functions of health behaviours, and the role of health intervention as an agent of social control are discussed. Finally, the results and evaluation of this community level health intervention programmes are discussed and their practical implications are considered.