Use of Community-Based Participatory Research Partnerships to Reduce COVID-19 Disparities Among Marshallese Pacific Islander and Latino Communities – Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, April–December 2020

This article describes a community-based participatory research initiative based on an existing community–academic partnership. Partners included the University of Arkansas, nonprofit organizations serving the Marshallese and Latinx communities, community-based nonprofit organizations, local hospital systems, a federally qualified health center, the Veteran Health Administration, the Arkansas Department of Health, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands consulate. The partnerships were leveraged to develop and implement the Comprehensive Intervention to Reduce COVID-19 Disparities in Marshallese and Latinx Communities in Benton and Washington counties. The comprehensive intervention consisted of 4 components: (1) health education, (2) testing, (3) contact tracing, and (4) care navigation (case management) for supported quarantine. After implementation of the comprehensive intervention, the proportions of new weekly cases among Marshallese and Latinx residents declined and began to align more closely with the proportions of Marshallese and Latinx community members in the 2 counties.

Resource Details

• Population: Hispanic, Latino, or Latinx|Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• Setting/Context of Implementation: Community
• Topics of Practice: Contact Tracing|Outreach/ Education/ Communications|Testing
• Outcomes of Interest: Reduction of Health Disparities
• Level of Evidence: Best
• Additional Languages: French
• Tools or Materials Included in Resource: No
• Social Determinants of Health: Healthcare Access and Quality|Social and Community Context
• Outside of US: No