A community health experience during the Civil War in El Salvador was systematized, which emerged in a context of institutionalized repression, describing the process developed as a comprehensive Primary Health Care. The axes of systematization were the processes of historical construction experience, social empowerment, and indicators of impact on community health. The population addressed their problems across inter-sectoral actions, improving basic conditions such as housing, water, latrines, and electricity. Population also produced their own food, created a model of popular education and health based in community agents. Health interventions evolved from the original focus in the injury to the prevention of disease and later to a comprehensive approach to social health determinants. The community organization, participation and inter-sectoral actions were keys to improve health and comprehensive development of the community.
Community health; Empowerment; Intersectoral actions; Social determinants of health