Discussing four rural experiences with leishmaniasis and malaria control in the Peruvian Andes, this paper analyzes concepts of peripheral health cultures and underlying logic in practical action. Peripheral health cultures in this case refer to the planning, organizing, and intervention abilities used to cope with relevant local health problems. The logic of practical action refers to the constant creation of specific action modes, different from those of other groups. In conclusion, this paper suggests the transformation of official disease control programs by incorporating such forms of logic, characterized by solidarity, inclusion, and cultural appropriateness.
Consumer Participation; Community Participation; Communicable Disease; Control; Leishmania; Malaria