Where There Is No Doctor 2011
Finding Out the Needs
As a health worker, you will first want to find out your people’s most important
health problems and their biggest concerns. To gather the information necessary
to decide what the greatest needs and concerns really are, it may help to make up
a list of questions.
On the next 2 pages are samples of the kinds of things you may want to ask.
But think of questions that are important in your area. Ask questions that not
only help you get information, but that get others asking important questions
themselves.
Do not make your list of questions too long or complicated—especially a list
you take from house to house. Remember, people are not numbers and do not
like to be looked at as numbers. As you gather information, be sure your first
interest is always in what individuals want and feel. It may be better not even to
carry a list of questions. But in considering the needs of your community, you
should keep certain basic questions in mind.
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