Identification of community health assets based on a biocultural approach in Mazahua, Mexico

Abstract

Introduction: The community assets approach makes it possible to identify, mobilize, and build upon the resources, capabilities, and strengths that exist within a community to promote people’s well-being and health. In Indigenous communities, this approach takes on particular significance when integrated with a biocultural perspective that recognizes the interrelationship between these two concepts.
Objective: To identify, from a biocultural perspective, the health assets present in the Mazahua San Juan Jalpa community of San Felipe del Progreso, Mexico.
Method: A qualitative ethnographic study was conducted using a dialogic and participatory approach. The sample consisted of 22 participants, selected through purposive sampling designed to maximize variation. The methods employed included semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and workshops. The data were analyzed through thematic categorization.
Results: A total of 24 community assets that promote health were identified, organized into three categories: agroecosystems and food (6 assets), sacred spaces, rituals, and social interaction (8 assets), and social infrastructure and health (10 assets). These assets function in an interconnected manner and contribute to the community’s resilience and well-being.
Conclusions: The identification of health assets in San Juan Jalpa demonstrates the feasibility of applying the biocultural approach in indigenous communities. The integration of traditional and institutional knowledge strengthens autonomy, identity, and the community’s capacity to promote health using its own resources.