that are responsive and relevant to their needs. The plan fo C' carrying out the community diagnosis is based on the results of the rapid appraisal. The breadth and depth (comprehensh·e,ersus problem-focused). the target population (entire community or a specific aggregate) and the problem focus are cla. rified and make it easier for the nurse and the people involved to develop :in arrange ment that will facilitate the conduct of tl,c community diagnosis. 1. Determining the objecnves Whether a comprehensive or a problem-oriented communit y diagnosis will be undertak en by the nurse ;md the community, ii is c,;tic. '. ll to determine the occurrence and distribulio111 of selected environment. ii, socio-econo mk and behavioral conditions. (DC\'cr, 1980) These are importanl in defining the hea Jth problems of Lhc communit-y. Later on during the planning phase. these will serve as guide in directing disease control :rnd wellness promotio n in. the community. In stating the objectives, lhc following questions should be answered : a. What is the pre. c;ent heal t11 condition of the people in the community? (This will describe the pn:vailing disease conditions and healt J1 needs of the targel population) b. Why are the people in the c ommunity ia such condition? 'Nhat specific problems are et1using these conditfons? (This will explain the health behavior s or risk factors tl1at give rise to the health problem) c.. W11at arc the roots of lhese problems? (This will provide the nnalyses related to the socio-economic, cultural and environmental factors that sustain or allow for the perpetuation of the health problems of the largetpopulation) d. What solutions will address the problems? (This will reflect the possible solutions of the. health problems based on the community's capabilities a. nd resources) 2. Defining the study population Based on the objectives of the community diagnosis, the nurse and the community diagnosi s team identify the population group to be included in the study. It may include the entire population in the community or focused on a specific population group such as women in the rcprndu ctive age-group or the infants and young children. If a complete enumeration of the desired population is not possible, the data may be collected data from a sample or a subset of the target population. The example that follow shows the objectives of a community diagnosis after rapid appraisal results led the nurse and the team to focus on the 0-12 population group. 157 