Mertens, FrédéricSaint-Charles, JohanneDemeda, Kátiade Castro, MauroSousa Passos, Carlos JoséLucotte, MarcDavée Guimarães, Jean RémyMergler, Donna2011-10-122011-10-122006http://hdl.handle.net/10625/47238In ARCHIV 126838Transdisciplinarity, gender analysis, social equity and participation are the methodological pillars of the Ecohealth approach, whose main goal is to improve human health and wellbeing while simultaneously maintaining a healthy ecosystem. In the present study, social network analysis is presented as an innovative tool to address gender, equity and community participation in Ecohealth research, by drawing upon experiences and results from the Caruso project which studies environmental dynamics and health effects of mercury in the Brazilian Amazon with the objective to reduce mercury exposure. As a participatory research tool, social network analysis is used to analyse the relationships between community action to reduce mercury exposure and 1. the distinctive roles of men and women; 2. the involvement of the different social groups and 3. the patterns of community participation. As a participatory development tool, social network analysis can contribute to the promotion of gender and social equity as well as local participation.Text1 digital file (18 p. : ill.)enIDRC Final Report