This article briefly introduces PRA and presents an example of its application to the evaluation of maternal and child health services in a small village in rural China. Following a wealth ranking, discussions with women were held concerning their utilisation of formal health services. The available health services were mapped and reasons for seeking treatment from different providers were expressed in the map. Matrix scoring elicited womenÆs evaluation of various maternal and child health service programmes, the most common sources of health information, and options for childbirth.
Following a brief introduction to PRA, the article describes the application of PRA methods to a study of reproductive health issues in a village in rural China. This involved health mapping, diagramming seasonality of disease, and a matrix ranking of preferred contraceptive techniques. The matrix is shown.
