Martin, Marion

Participatory research and empowerment of women in health care

The potential of participatory research in empowering women in the context of health care is discussed and illustrated with case studies from India and Zimbabwe in this article. The participatory method of body mapping employed in a reproductive health context in rural Zimbabwe demonstrates how participatory research methods help initiate dialogue between health professionals and local women and provide a means of mutual learning and empowerment for those participating in the research.