Community development and primary health care: Their conceptual similarities¹

CD and PHC are examined with the purpose of showing that PHC could profit from the experience of the older CD movement and utilize both the positive and negative experience of CD in planning and operation of PHC programs.

Abstract

In an effort to meet the material and social needs of developing countries following the 2nd world war 2 types of programs developed. Community development (CD) the 1st to appear is a rural across-the-board developmental approach stressing agriculture health education and communication. The other is primary health care (PHC) which is designed to cope with the basic health needs of developing countries and set in the context of integrated socioeconomic development. CD and PHC are examined with the purpose of showing that PHC could profit from the experience of the older CD movement. CD and PHC are similar in concept philosophy and goals and it would be expected that PHC planners would be interested in the CD experience. This however is not often the case. The CD experience has not been an unqualified success due to misconceptions characterized in many CD programs and bureaucratic difficulties. Yet PHC should utilize both the positive and negative experience of CD in planning and operation of PHC programs.