Migrant studies using the community-based participatory research partnership approach

Abstract

Abstract Background This integrative review examined the academic-community partnerships in quantitative health care studies using the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach and targeting migrants. Methods The keywords were 'community based participatory or CBPR' AND 'immigrants or migrants.' All studies were written in English and published between January 2010 and December 2018. Results In the final sample (n = 26), studies used a variety of community partners including consumers and staff recruited from a variety of sites. The ethnicity between community partners and the target population was concordant in all studies reviewed. Yet, only a single study reported concordance between community partners and the migrant group (a group in which some hold a more privileged status than others) of the target population. Conclusions Official status such as citizenship is among the social parameters of intersectionality; yet the majority of CBPR studies examining migrant populations combined disparate migrant groups and used terms such as migrants, refugees and immigrants interchangeably. The CBPR approach is a valuable approach for health care studies as it strives to be culturally-informed so that study results on vulnerable populations are internally and externally validity. When concordance is not possible, researchers must describe the efforts that the partnership undertook to obtain and apply culturally-informed efforts. Key messages Optimally CBPR studies seek community partners who are concordant with the target population. When impossible, descriptions of culturally-informed efforts are needed. Migrants are a heterogeneous population. Migrants with less vulnerability may be ineffective representatives of the most vulnerable migrant groups.