Sustaining relationships between communities and local health systems: Two Iranian villages

The ability of health systems to positively affect the health and well-being of communities will be limited if the systems fail to address the crucial role and dynamic nature of communities and ignore key community members and existing institutions. Without a custom for input or an infrastructure for collaboration between individual and institutional community assets and their local health systems, health interventions can lead to failure, duplication or interference with existing health-related activities. This paper examines the roles of community leaders and institutions in two remote Iranian villages and makes recommendations for improving and sustaining participatory relationships between local communities and their health systems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.