Engaging Vulnerable Populations in Community-based Participatory Research: Lessons Learned

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Equity Research
• Community-Engaged Scholarship

Background:

• Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is vital for reducing health disparities.
• Exclusion of vulnerable groups in research perpetuates systemic inequities.
• Authentic community-academic partnerships must amplify marginalized voices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share lessons learned from community-academic partnerships.
• Focus on three distinct vulnerable populations: Arab youth, Black girls and women, and sex workers.
• Inform future equitable research endeavors.

Main Methods:

• Community-based participatory researchers employed reflexivity.
• Identified and described lessons learned through collaboration.
• Focused on partnerships with vulnerable populations.

Main Results:

• Key lessons centered on power sharing and effective community partnership in CBPR.
• Institutional barriers such as tenure, IRB processes, stigma, and funding challenges were identified.
• Successful CBPR requires navigating these systemic impediments.

Conclusions:

• Equitable partnerships necessitate genuine power sharing.
• Balancing community needs with academic requirements is crucial for sustained funding.
• Cultural safety and collaborative approaches can overcome institutional obstacles.