Using Community-Based Participatory Processes to Bring Health Education Technology to Communities

The purpose of this paper is to describe a community-based participatory process of developing computer tailored messages (a form of technologically advanced health education materials) within a community-based lay health adviser program. This process included: 1) identifying the desired characteristics of the health education materials, 2) prioritizing the content and format of the health education materials, and 3) developing methods for distributing these materials. An overview of the lay health adviser program is presented, followed by a description of how each step was taken, a review of the health education method chosen (computer-tailored messages), and a discussion of the challenges and benefits of using community-based participatory processes to bring appropriate technology to communities.