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Community Assessment Methods

This document discusses various methods for conducting community health assessments, including familiarization surveys, problem-oriented assessments, comprehensive assessments, and community asset assessments. Familiarization surveys involve observing and speaking to residents to gather initial data, while problem-oriented assessments focus on a single issue. Comprehensive assessments seek all relevant health information, and community asset assessments examine community strengths and resources. Data collection methods include surveys, forums, focus groups, and epidemiological studies.

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157 views8 pages

Community Assessment Methods

This document discusses various methods for conducting community health assessments, including familiarization surveys, problem-oriented assessments, comprehensive assessments, and community asset assessments. Familiarization surveys involve observing and speaking to residents to gather initial data, while problem-oriented assessments focus on a single issue. Comprehensive assessments seek all relevant health information, and community asset assessments examine community strengths and resources. Data collection methods include surveys, forums, focus groups, and epidemiological studies.

Uploaded by

ta C
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Community Assessment

Methods
Health Needs Assessment
Community Assessment methods
• Familiarisation or a Windshield survey-
involves the study of data already available in
a community, then gathering firsthand data in
order to obtain a working knowledge of the
community. Would involve driving or walking
around in the community and speaking to
residents to obtain information.
Community assessment methods
• Problem-oriented assessment- This begins with a
single problem and assesses the community in
terms of that problem. This is used when
familiarisation is not enough and a
comprehensive assessment is too expensive. This
type of assessment is in response to a particular
need. The data collected will be useful in any kind
of planning for a community response to a
specific action.
Community subsystem Assessment
• The focus is on a single dimension of community
life. This can be useful for a team of midwives or
community workers to conduct a more thorough
community assessment. E.g . The midwife may
decide to survey religious organisations in the
community where there appears to be a high rate
of teen pregnancies. This may include the
services offered by the churches to meet the
needs of the teenagers. What needs do these
organisations see that exists among these teens?
Comprehensive Assessment
• This seeks to discover all relevant community
health information . It reviews existing data
and studies available on the community. The
demographic information on the population
including its density, size and composition etc.
This may involve key informants local police,
religious leaders, head-teachers in the schools
etc.
Community Assets assessment
• Focus is on the strengths and capacities of the
community rather than on it’s problems. This type of
assessment examines the needs that exists, goals to be
achieved, and resources available.
• Begins with what is present in the community and the
capacities and skills of the community members are
identified with a focus on creating or building
relationships among local residents, institutions, to
multiply power and effectiveness. It requires seeing the
glass as half full and becoming a partner in community
intervention rather than merely a provider of services.
Community Assets Assessment Cont’d
• Three levels of assets assessment include:
Specific skills, talents, interests and experiences
of individual community members, including
businesses, groups and professionals living in the
community.
• Local associations, and institutions controlled
largely by the community including libraries,
social services agencies, voluntary agencies,
schools and the police.
• Institutions originating and controlled largely
outside the community including welfare services
Methods of community assessments
• Surveys-series of questions used to collect data.
• Community forums or town hall meetings- group
of various individuals in the community
• Focus groups- groups of approx 5-15 individuals
e.g a group of primigravidas.
• Descriptive epidemiological studies- examines the
amount and distribution of disease by person
who is affected, by place where affected and by
time affected. Useful in examining individuals at
greater risk and where and when the conditions
may occur.

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