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Health Promotion International, Vol. 17, No. 3, 223-233, September 2002
© Oxford University Press 2002

Children’s perceptions of strategies for resolving community health problems

Ilze Kalnins1, Corrine Hart2,3, Peri Ballantyne1,4, Georgia Quartaro5, Rhonda Love1, Gunta Sturis5,6 and Patti Pollack1,7

1 Department of Public Health Sciences, 2 Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto and 5 Faculty of Community Services, George Brown College, Toronto, Canada

Address for correspondence: Dr Ilze Kalnins Department of Public Health Sciences McMurrich Building University of Toronto Toronto Ontario M5S 1A8 Canada E-mail: ilze.kalnins{at}utoronto.ca

We examine children’s perceptions of the strategies they would use to resolve community health problems. Qualitative analysis using a grounded theory approach showed that 9- to 10-year-old children could conceptualize a range of solutions to hypothetical community health problems. Children’s responses reflected an egocentric perspective, one that was centered on self and peers acting on short-term solutions to the immediate problem. Less frequently, children conceptualized broader structural interventions aimed at removing the problem altogether. Children could name resource persons including their friends, family, school personnel and other people in the community. However, outside of their family and peers, their knowledge was non-specific, i.e. it is doubtful that they would actually be able to access the resources. In light of our findings we discuss several important implications for future research. We note that children are interested in changing community conditions that affect their heath. However, their recognition of their marginalized position in adult society and their perception that adults do not take them seriously may be significant barriers to their participation. We suggest that society must rethink the position and roles that are assigned to children so that their valuable potential is not lost.

Key words: children; community health; empowerment


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