Capacity building: The experience of health education workers in the Yukon

Population health literature holds that influencing the determinants of health will enable health inequities to be redressed and health outcomes improved. The question arises of how determinants of health can be addressed in community health practice. The study explores the use of a capacity building approach as a means to address health determinants in the Yukon context.;Findings about capacity building are reported in relation to meaning, process, health education worker role, Yukon context and effects of activity. Predominant themes that emerged indicate the importance of building on strengths, achieving an end of immediate importance within the context and living in relationship with the community when undertaking capacity building activity. Implications for policy, community health practice, and further research are identified.;Research was conducted with Yukon health education workers, through individual and small group interview, to explore their understanding, experience and observations of the outcomes of capacity building. All participants were associated with the Yukon College Public Health and Safety unit as employees or program instructors. Participants were randomly selected from four Yukon community size groupings, to allow identification of common themes across varied settings.