Health and Livelihoods in Rural Angola (Oxfam Working Papers Series)

This paper is an account of an Oxfam research project which had a dual aim: to find out more about how rural communities use health services, and to involve communities in the research.

It gives an objective description of the preparation and implementation of the project, including an evaluation of the limits as well as the advantages of participatory research methods. It paints a detailed picture of rural Angolans’ knowledge and beliefs about health care, skilfully unravelling the complex mesh of traditional institutions, social organizations, family income, and family hierarchies.

The final section draws together the conclusioons from the research process and its findings. It makes recommendations for providers of health-care services as well as for researchers.