Value-Added of Community Participation In Health Development in Morogoro Municipal Council, Tanzania

This paper discusses the value-added on community participation in health service delivery development in Tanzania using data obtained in 2007 from a study in Morogoro municipality. The study assessed whether community participation had any significant impact in health development. Data were collected using questionnaire administration, interviewing, documentary review and observation, and were analyzed by using frequencies, percentages and tables that were facilitated by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences tool. The study revealed that there were opportunities for community participation in the health service delivery through Health Service Boards (HSBs), Health Facility Governing Committees (HFGCs), and Community Based Initiatives (CBIs). There were, albeit very minimal, positive outcomes in cost-sharing, drug availability, community based initiatives, cleanliness, health seeking behaviour, sense of ownership of health facilities, responsive care, and reduction of disease outbreaks. However, the study noted limited knowledge on health services activities due to the lack of effective communication, limited power in decision making, which in turn hamper community based initiatives to flourish. Based on the findings, the study recommended the need to improve tools of communication, empower and involve community in decision making, foster community based initiatives, reinforce policy framework, and increase political will and capacity building for technical sources at municipal and community levels