Taking part in adolescent sexual health promotion in Peru: Community participation from a social psychological perspective

This paper revisits the held of community participation in health promotion as understood from the viewpoint of social psychology. It discusses ongoin g dialogues between health promotion policy discourses in relation to commu nity involvement in development, and theoretical and practical contribution s of social psychology in this respect. In particular, it introduces a soci al psychological framework for understanding and aiding community participa tion, grounded in the works of Jurgen Habermas and Paulo Freire. A communit y-based adolescent sexual health promotion initiative taking place in highl y deprived communities in Peru serves as a case study to illustrate the app roach. Findings are discussed with respect to the outcomes achieved, the li ght shed on the understanding of adolescent sexual health, and the impact o n the adolescents partaking of the project. In the light of the results of the practical implementation of the theoretical approach outlined, the pape r argues that social psychology is well positioned to contribute to communi ty development, in particular to improving understanding and aiding of soci al processes of participation and change. Areas that require further resear ch both at theoretical and at practical Levels are identified and discussed . Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.