Refining the research infrastructure at community health centers.

Abstract

Community health centers (CHC) often partner with academics to conduct community-based participatory research (CBPR). Because of their research expertise, academic partners are usually the principal investigators (PIs); however, moving the home base of research to the community can prove beneficial to the CHC and its community. The purpose of this paper was to discuss the lessons learned after conducting a CBPR project and to share identified solutions. A longitudinal perinatal risk reduction intervention study was conducted with primiparous Native Hawaiian women receiving prenatal care at a CHC. The intervention incorporated home visiting, social support, and lactation management. Primary lessons learned from this participatory process can be grouped into infrastructure, human resources, and recruitment. Sharing lessons learned can serve to expand a CHC's involvement in research, and provide a venue for discovering innovative and viable community and practice based approaches to solving health disparity challenges.