[Community participation: COVID-19 learning for new crises. SESPAS Report 2022]

Gac Sanit. 2022:36 Suppl 1:S22-S25. doi: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2022.02.011.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Community participation has been put as secondary due to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is despite the evidence of its importance in relation to equity and health promotion. Even so, there have been a number of experiences of community participation that can give us clues towards how to confront potential future emergencies focusing on health promotion and social determinants. The main aim of this article is reflecting critically on the role of community participation during the pandemic as well as extracting a number of ideas which could be useful and ensure a better management of a future crisis. They arise from evidence and experiences undertaken in Spain. In order to do so, it is key to build and maintain community networks whilst identifying common goals and the role that different community agents must play, adapting to different contexts and participatory assessments. Community action cannot be improvised: it demands time, resources and specific political willingness to make it sustainable and efficient.

La gestión de la pandemia de COVID-19 ha dejado en segundo plano la participación comunitaria, a pesar de la evidencia de su importancia para la equidad y la promoción de la salud. Aun así, ha habido experiencias participativas que aportan claves de cara a cómo enfrentar posibles emergencias futuras incorporando un enfoque de promoción de la salud y determinantes sociales. El objetivo de este artículo es, a partir de la evidencia y las experiencias desarrolladas en España, hacer una reflexión crítica del papel de la participación comunitaria durante la pandemia y extraer aprendizajes de utilidad para estar mejor preparados en próximas crisis. Para ello, es fundamental construir y mantener redes comunitarias, identificar objetivos comunes y el rol que deben desempeñar los diferentes agentes comunitarios, adaptarse a los distintos contextos y evaluar participativamente. La acción comunitaria no se improvisa: requiere tiempo, recursos y voluntad política para hacerla eficaz y sostenible.

Keywords: Community health planning; Community networks; Community participation; Health promotion; Pandemias; Pandemics; Participación de la comunidad; Planificación en salud comunitaria; Promoción de la salud; Redes comunitarias.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Community Participation
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Research Report
  • Spain / epidemiology