|
|
 |
|
Viewing report
|
|
|
|
A Search for the 'public' in Government Public Health
Initiatives. Edition No. 1
VDM Publishing House, Jan 2009, Pages: 268
In contemporary societies, individuals and
communities are increasingly being expected to look
after their health, but to what extent is their
knowledge and experience valued? This book is a study
of community involvement in health and explores the
understanding of health that lay people have compared
to professionals. It traces and analyses the process
of lay participation in health promotion. The study
methodology is informed by the author’s own history
and draws on participatory action research
techniques, underpinned by the work of amongst
others, Paolo Freire. It is contextualised in a
review of UK public health, community development,
the government's Health Action Zone initiative, and
constructions of health and illness. The policy and
political context is that of the ‘New Labour
Government’s ‘third way’ and its association with the
concept of social capital. The study demonstrates how
the government’s idea of ‘modernisation’ marginalised
lay participation and the use of lay knowledge in
public health. It recommends frameworks and also a
social capital model that can aid the planning and
implementation of health promotion initiatives that
are more inclusive of the public.
|
|
|
|
