[Health education in developing countries--Indian health promoters in a tuberculosis prevention program in the Chaco region of Paraguay]

Abstract

Several characteristics obstacles exist in developing countries in respect of implementation or realisation of health programmes. The following article, however, shows how effective preventive health and health care measures can be made possible even in the face of seemingly insurmountable difficulties. The only presently existing model basing on many years of experience, consequent development and documented success in the targeted prophylaxis of tuberculosis, is that of the Latin American Indian health promoters in the Chaco of Paraguay. The article discusses the results of the authors' own investigations regarding the training curriculum for the job of a "health promoter", delegation and distribution of tasks and success of the programme (incidence of tuberculosis and death rates). These are discussed in respect of general consequences for a concept of health training in developing countries.