Introduction Community participation is an important component of a community based health intervention especially in designing, implementing and sustainability issues. A model of community participation was developed and practiced in the PRECISE (Prevention of Child Injury through Social Intervention) project in Bangladesh.

Objective To describe the process of development and role of community groups in a child injury prevention project in Bangladesh.

Methods Community participation was identified as one of the guiding principle in PRECISE. Villages were identified as units for developing a community groups. Prior to developing groups, 80–100 enthusiastic villagers were invited in a meeting; magnitude and consequences of injury and prevention issues were discussed. Discussion took place how the community people can contribute in injury prevention. After that a 7–10 members Village injury Prevention committee (VIPC) was formed by the community people, with active volunteers taking part.

Results 389 Village Injury Prevention Committee (VIPCs) were formed and each committee has 30% female representatives. Committee members meet every month to review the previous month's implementation status of injury prevention initiatives in their village. Individual and group responsibilities are identified and plans of action developed accordingly. PRECISE has a regular programme for capacity development of the members. Innovative examples of preventive interventions will be discussed and how training for capacity development has developed.

Conclusions PRECISE has developed VIPCs as an effective component of the child injury prevention programme, with community participation actively supported and encouraged.