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This paper focuses on methods which can be used to highlight food security issues and health problems in a community. A 'method' highlighted is the incorporation of local definitions of the issue - in this instance nutrition into the creation of hypotheses about the nature of the problem.

This issue of RRA Notes based on a health workshop held at IDS in November 1991 is particularly interesting on the question of taking methods that have been developed in the context of one sector (agriculture) and applying them to another sector - health. The papers consist of a number of case studies and policy angles on the issue of PRA and health. The most methodologically interesting papers are abstracted in their own right (Rifkin, 1992 and Heaver, 1992). Other papers of particular interest are those by LaFond, Cresswell and Moneti.

The International Conference on Rapid Assessment Methodologies for Planning and Evaluating Health Related Programmes, was organised by the United Nations University, at the Pan American Health Organisation headquarters in 1990, to "explore anthropologically based methodologies for the design, evaluation, and improvement of programmes of nutrition and primary health care". The 42 chapters on Rapid Assessment Procedures [RAP], Rapid Rural Appraisal [RRA], and related approaches deal with a range of research tools. The book is divided in to seven sections: 1. The expanding role of Qualitative research in International Development; 2. Development and applications of RAP procedures in Africa, Asia and the Americas; 3. Community Participation and RRA; 4. Institutionalization of RAP; 5. Training for RAP and other qualitative methods; 6. Bringing RAP to the decision-making realm: effective communication and use; 7. Conference summary, comments, speakers and participants. The overall focus is on planning and evaluation of nutrition and health related intervention programs, but much that is discussed will have a direct bearing on other social development sectors. The stated aim of the volume, of contributing "toward increasing the understanding of RAP and RRA, both as tools of investigation and potentially as integrated components of the community development process itself", highlights this point.

This paper reviews the development of various methods designed to quickly and accurately generate relevant social information pertaining to health and disease control. It examines the use of knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) surveys, community diagnosis, RRA, rapid epidemiological assessments (REA), and rapid assessment procedures (RAP) using anthropological methods. It is cautioned that KAP surveys may be inadequate to document behaviours or to explain social opinions, and that data require validation through triangulation. Often it has been used as a simple questionnaire without pretesting. Community diagnosis emphasises the participatory nature of research, using local researchers, flexible design and a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Community diagnosis is contrasted with other techniques (PRA, PALM, RRA). Both RRA and REA are characterised by "quick forays into the field". RAP using anthropological methods receives particular attention, given the lack of trained social scientists to work with disease control programmes and ministries of health and in light of the need for social science input into the development of health policies and programmes. The various techniques are assessed in terms of scope and methods. The discussion of RAP focuses on issues relating to professional competence (e.g. use of RAP by biomedical researchers), representativeness, reliability and validity of data (e.g. short time period of study). Ways in which to maximise the benefit of valid data are presented (e.g. triangulation). The paper also refers to many limitations (e.g. brief training, use of manuals, personal ability and dangers of rushing) of RAP applications and transfer.