Giving Voice to Underserved and Culturally Diverse Groups Using Community-Based Participatory Research

The purpose of this article is to present a community-based participatory research (CBPR) strategy reflecting a partnership between researchers from an independent community-based research organization and a team of five female residents living in an economically disadvantaged, medically underserved community. Using a CBPR approach, we partnered at a grass-roots level with these women to share our research knowledge and technical skills to gain a better understanding of the cultural attitudes, beliefs and behaviors underlying several health disparities affecting their community. We present the methodology and process by which we established our partnership and how our relationship with the team has strengthened our research efforts and resulted in the team taking action steps in their community to promote health. We conclude with a discussion of factors for medical students, residents, fellows and faculty to consider when adopting CBPR strategies to partner more effectively with culturally diverse populations.