COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTH-CARE AT THE MEXICAN-SOCIAL-SECURITY-INSTITUTE IN JALISCO

This paper describes the achievements and problems of a community part icipation model in health care, developed by the Mexican Social Securi ty Institute since 1985. The health team involved between 10 and 20 pe rcent of the per sonnel due to the slow adoption this program requires in new of the cultural change it implies. The community's answer has been satisfactory, as it can be seen by the ware of 100 neighbours and school committees, and around the 2000 housewins and schoool students who are been working as promoters. This figurs staud monthly. The sel fcare groups on chronic diseases constitute another form of participat ion. The community activites are progressively focused on causes of he alth and disease, embracing our 70 per cent of health promotion and di sease prevention actions. The work realized by the community overcause one third of that realized by the preventive medicine personnel. This health community participation model represents a valuable and viable alternative.