What is the main objective of participatory action in the COPAR approach?

The main objective of participatory action in the COPAR (Community Organizing Participatory Action Research) approach is to engage community members in the decision-making process. This engagement is critical as it empowers individuals and groups within the community, ensuring that their voices, needs, and perspectives are considered in addressing local issues. By actively involving community members, the participatory action approach fosters ownership and accountability, leading to solutions that are more relevant, sustainable, and widely accepted by those affected.

Involving the community not only enhances the effectiveness of health interventions but also builds capacity and strengthens social cohesion. This collaborative process encourages mutual learning between community members and health professionals, leading to better-informed decisions that reflect the true needs of the community.

The other options suggest a top-down approach to decision-making, which contrasts sharply with the principles of participatory action. Limiting decisions to experts or selected individuals ignores the valuable insights and potential contributions of the entire community, undermining the goal of creating shared responsibility in health initiatives. Similarly, identifying problems without community involvement can result in solutions that lack relevance or efficacy, as they do not reflect the lived experiences and knowledge of those affected.