Working with women's groups to promote health in the community using the health analysis and action cycle within Nepal

The Health Analysis and Action Cycle was conceived as an empowering approac h that enables women to review their health and environmental situation. It considers health in its socioenvironmental context and does not focus only on the biomedical dimension. The women are able to consider their own beli efs surrounding health and illness in a nonthreatening way and to plan and take action for themselves. The approach was first developed for use in Nep al among literate women's groups; later, a more visual approach was adapted from this for nonliterate groups. This second step was felt necessary due to the high level of illiteracy (75%) among women. This article will provid e information on the steps involved in the Health Analysis and Action Cycle and some of the outcomes of this approach.