Ochola, Bayo, Alii, Ogwang); International Prevention Research Institute (
Greco); University of Montreal (
Zarowsky) The framework shed light on social and cultural conversion factors (women s status and cultural gender norms) obstructing women s full freedom in the context of implementing a participatory community intervention. Community-based women s groups using a participatory learning and action (PLA) cycle involve a trained female facilitator discussing mothers and children s health issues with women from her community. This approach is anchored in Freire s philosophy, which proposes that marginalised communities can mobilise themselves and take collective actions to address poverty and social issues. This study explored the perceived impact on women s capability of a project using women s groups practicing the PLA cycle to promote maternal and child health in Gulu, Northern Uganda.