The Importance of Community-Based and Community-Partnered Covid-19 Testing for Reducing Disparities Among African American Populations

Bibliographic Data

ID19578567
AuthorsChavon Hamilton-Burgess (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Jannette Berkley-Patton (0000-0003-0235-7057, University of Missouri–Kansas City), Jenifer E Allsworth (0000-0001-6559-8638, University of Missouri–Kansas City), Jenifer Allsworth, Carole Bowe Thompson (0000-0001-6633-3906, University of Missouri–Kansas City), Frank E Thompson (University of Missouri–Kansas City), Tacia Burgin (University of Missouri–Kansas City), Eric Williams (0000-0002-6352-2928, Calvary Bible College), Eric D Williams (Calvary Temple Baptist Church, Calvary Community Outreach Network, Kansas City, Missouri, USA), Kathryn P Derose (0000-0001-7742-6024, RAND Corporation, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume8
Issue1
Pages147-156
Publication date2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Equity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2473-1242 • E-ISSN: 2473-1242
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1089/heq.2022.0185
PMID38505761
OpenAlexW4392543902
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

Background: Health inequalities in African American communities have been further exacerbated by COVID-19. Public health departments and other safety-net providers across the United States have partnered with community-based organizations to address barriers to COVID-19 testing in disproportionately impacted communities. This narrative review summarizes lessons learned from published examples of these community-based COVID-19 testing efforts. Methods: We searched online databases for peer-reviewed articles on community-based COVID-19 testing interventions in the United States aimed at increasing COVID-19 testing among African American populations. We abstracted information about each example and synthesized the primary lessons learned and key aspects that contributed to their success. Results: Seven examples of community-based COVID-19 testing aimed at increasing testing among African Americans and other underserved populations were identified and described, across various U.S. locations and involving multiple types of partners (1) St. Paul, MN (faith, health centers, Mayo Clinic); (2) Chicago, IL (university hospital and health centers); (3) NC (health centers, Community Advisory Board); (4) Baltimore, MD (hospitals, community clinic, mobile clinic); (5) Marion County, FL (health department and community partners); (6) New Orleans, LA (health department and health system); and (7) New York City, NY health and hospital system, mobile clinic). Discussion: Several key aspects of the COVID-19 testing models included the following: (1) close proximity of the testing site to affected communities and availability of walk-up and drive-through testing options; (2) partnerships between safety-net providers and broad community networks, which facilitated outreach and trust; (3) increased resources for safety-net providers; and (4) the use of data to identify areas of need and track impact. The merging of resources and relationships among well-equipped, safety-net providers and other health care institutions and culture-rich, community-centered organizations, to jointly address structural and systemic inequities, is key to cultivating health equity in the distribution of COVID-19 testing and other essential public health services

Community health · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health equity · Outreach · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public health · Safety net · COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Medicine · Nursing · SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing · Gerontology