COPAR – Community Organizing Participatory Action Research

Do you love working in the community and helping address health issues while empowering people to become actively healthy? If so, this article is perfect for you. As a community nurse or student nurse immersed in the community, it is essential to learn the basics of Community Organizing Participatory Action Research (COPAR)

What is COPAR?

COPAR stands for Community Organizing Participatory Action Research. It is defined as a continuous and sustained process of organizing and mobilizing people through community participation, action, and research. This approach involves teamwork between the nurse and community members to solve health problems and empower people to take action, utilizing their resources to achieve optimal health.

Imagine your community is facing a health issue, such as many children and adults getting the flu. Instead of telling people what to do, a nurse using COPAR would work with the community to:

1. Identify the Problem: Conduct surveys and assessments. Interview people to understand why the flu is spreading, including recent activities and contacts of those affected.
2. Make a Plan: Collaboratively develop strategies to address the issue, such as conducting wide-scale campaigns about flu prevention, emphasizing hygienic practices, and promoting vaccinations.
3. Take Action: Implement the plan with the help of the entire community, including local government units (LGUs) and authorized personnel.
4. Learn and Improve: Reflect on the actions taken and continue practicing the health habits and interventions to prevent future outbreaks.

Importance of Community Organizing and Participatory Action Research (COPAR)

1. Empowerment: COPAR is a vital approach to community development that empowers residents by fostering active participation in development initiatives.
2. Sustainability: Through COPAR, communities are equipped to independently manage their development programs over time.
3. Strengthening Communities: By maximizing community involvement and harnessing local resources, COPAR strengthens communities and improves their well-being.

Principles of Community Organizing and Participatory Action Research (COPAR)

The importance of COPAR is derived from the following basic principles:

• Addressing the Oppressed: It aims to help oppressed, economically deprived, and marginalized people in dire need of change.
• Focusing on the Poorest Sectors: It prioritizes the best interests of the poorest sectors of society.
• Promoting Self-Reliance: It should lead to a self-reliant community.

COPAR is a systematic, cyclical approach to community development that fosters people empowerment. Through capacity-building activities, it equips communities to organize and actively participate in addressing their challenges. Moreover, this approach emphasizes community involvement in identifying and addressing their challenges. By fostering equal participation, shared leadership, and building local capacity, communities can take ownership of their development. This process is similar to the nursing process but applies to the community. It includes assessing community needs, mobilizing support, creating action plans, implementing solutions, and measuring their impact.

Phases of COPAR

The process of COPAR is divided into several phases, moving through a series of steps to empower the community.

Pre-Entry Phase

This initial phase involves selecting a target community comprising at least 50 – 100 families based on identified needs through data analysis and on-site assessments. Before engaging with the community, the nurse collaborates with the local government to facilitate the process. This phase emphasizes institutional preparation and site selection activities.

Institutional Preparation and Site Selection Activities include:

• Training faculty and students in COPAR methods.
• Developing a plan to integrate COPAR into the institution.
• Enhancing the curriculum to include COPAR-related courses and field experiences.
• Coordinating with other departments to involve them in COPAR initiatives.
• Establishing initial contact with local government officials.
• Conducting preliminary research to identify potential community partners.
• Creating a shortlist of suitable communities for collaboration.
• Visiting potential communities to assess their needs and readiness.

Entry Phase

During this phase, the nurse or student nurses immerse themselves in the community to gather pertinent information and understand the needs. Potential leaders are identified in this phase, also called the social preparation phase. Key activities include:

Integration and Social Investigation

Integration:

• Building relationships with community members.
• Observing community life and dynamics.
• Identifying potential leaders and key informants.
• Adapting to the community’s culture and lifestyle.

Social Investigation:

• Conducting preliminary assessments of community needs and problems.
• Gathering data through informal interviews, observations, and secondary sources.
• Identifying potential community organizations and their roles.
• Mapping out community resources and structures.

Sensitization and Consciousness Raising

• Recognizing significant occurrences that have impacted the community.
• Encouraging community members to envision a better future.
• Exploring underlying factors contributing to community problems.
• Fostering understanding of community issues and their implications.

Core Group Formation

• Identifying potential leaders: Selecting individuals with influence and commitment.
• Building trust and rapport: Establishing strong relationships among the core group.
• Defining roles and responsibilities: Clarifying expectations and tasks for group members.

Organization-Building Phase

This phase involves establishing a formal structure and processes for planning, implementing, and evaluating community programs. Leaders and groups receive training to enhance their management skills. Key activities include forming a Community Health Organization (CHO) with legal documents, electing officers, and creating committees for research, planning, and health. The CHO also develops its bylaws.

Sustenance and Strengthening Phase

The sustenance and strengthening phase begins once the community organization is fully functional and actively involved in community projects. Existing committees independently plan, implement, and evaluate their programs under the overall guidance of the community organization. Key activities include training community members to monitor and implement health programs, identifying new leaders, building partnerships, addressing community concerns, and initiating livelihood projects.

Comparing COPAR and Nursing ADPIE Process

Before discussing the comparison, let’s briefly define each process:

COPAR (Community Organizing Participatory Action Research): This methodology involves community members in identifying, analyzing, and finding solutions to their problems. It emphasizes empowerment and capacity-building.

Nursing ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation): A systematic approach to patient care involving Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. It focuses on individual patient needs.

See Also: ADPIE Charting for Nurses: A Simple yet Effective Tool

Key Similarities and Differences

Similarities: Both processes involve assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. They aim to improve the well-being of their respective subjects (community or patient).

Differences: COPAR is broader in scope, focusing on community development and social change, while nursing ADPIE is more focused on individual patient care. COPAR emphasizes participation and empowerment, while nursing ADPIE follows a more structured, linear approach.

Overlapping Concepts

Despite their differences, there are overlapping concepts that can be applied in both processes:

• Assessment: In COPAR, it involves understanding community needs and resources, while in nursing, it focuses on gathering patient data.
• Planning: Both processes require developing strategies and interventions based on assessed needs.
• Implementation: Involves carrying out the planned actions.
• Evaluation: Both processes evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and make necessary adjustments.

Conclusion

COPAR serves as an important strategy for empowering communities. By focusing on their voices, building on their strengths, and fostering collective action, COPAR becomes a catalyst for social change. Through participatory processes, these communities gain agency, challenge systemic inequalities, and create sustainable solutions to their most pressing issues. While challenges persist, the transformative potential of COPAR in uplifting marginalized groups is significant. As a nurse, especially in the Philippines where community health is deeply valued, it is important to continue investing in COPAR initiatives and create supportive environments to enable marginalized communities to thrive and achieve better health outcomes. This not only advances your professional practice but also strengthens the very fabric of our society.