TY - JOUR AU - Bates, Benjamin R. AU - Marvel, Diana L. AU - Nieto-Sanchez, Claudia AU - Grijalva, Mario J. PY - 2019 M3 - Original Research TI - Painting a Community-Based Definition of Health: A Culture-Centered Approach to Listening to Rural Voice in Chaquizhca, Ecuador JO - Frontiers in Communication UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2019.00037 VL - 4 SN - 2297-900X N2 - The terms “health” and “well-being” are commonly used in health communication research. These terms, despite calls for a consensus definition, are rarely explicitly defined. We argue that, instead of imposing a universal definition of health or well-being, communities can be better served if we adopt a culture-centered approach (CCA) and listen to their local, contextualized definitions of health. To demonstrate community articulation of a definition of health, we offer an analysis of wall art created by and with a community and our service and research team. After understanding a definition offered by a rural community in Chaquizhca, Ecuador, we articulate how a community-based definition of health can become a culture-centered way to operationalize definitions offered by the World Health Organization in ways that better serve local communities. ER -