Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
'A poverty in understanding': Assessing the structural challenges experienced by community health workers and their
1Department of Anthropology, Geography, & Ethnic Studies, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Community health workers (CHWs) are crucial intermediaries between marginalised populations and health and social services. Among their unique repertoire of services includes their commitment to advocacy, a crucial skill that aids clients in addressing the social determinants of health that deleteriously affect their wellbeing. However, a plethora of structural barriers encountered by their clients complicates the caregiving of these workers. Drawing on data from a year-long ethnographic research project situated in Indiana, I analyse the diverse structural challenges experienced by these workers and their clients and assess the parallels encountered by CHWs at the global scale. Among the key barriers encountered by CHWs included difficulty in accessing resources for clients, lack of effective public transportation, barriers within the professional workforce, and the overarching negative impact of structural violence on client motivation. In spite of these issues, CHWs can positively address these barriers through a wider adoption of a structural competency approach, which further elucidates and addresses the harmful effects of structural violence.
Related Concept Videos
Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Health Literacy
Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...

