Diversity and Disparity: Bringing Community Realities to the Prevention Research Centers Program Community-based Research

The Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Program is the largest extramural research program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program funds 33 academic health centers to conduct community-based participatory research (CBPR). A national evaluation of the program demonstrated the depth and breadth of CBPR activities in reaching diverse and disparate populations and described facilitators to developing and sustaining the academic and community partnership. The evaluation included document review for all 33 PRCs and in-depth telephone interviews with a sample of PRC academic and community partners. The 33 PRCs partner with 66 communities located within 322 counties and 26 states. These communities include rural, urban, suburban, frontier, and U.S.-Mexico border regions and tribal organizations. PRCs focus their research on underserved, low income, or high-risk populations. The percentage of African Americans and Asian, Pacific Islanders, or Native Americans was higher in the PRC research communities than in the United States (35% vs. 12% and 8% vs. 5%, respectively). The mean per capita income is lower by about one-third in the research communities as compared to the U.S. average ($15,387 vs. $21,587). Community partners reported that their experience as long-term residents in the research community was a valuable resource for the development and implementation of the research. Community and academic partners stated that understanding and appreciating each other's culture helped the partnership. In PRC research partnerships, community partners often come from disparate communities. They bring their life experiences and perspectives to the research, which helps base the research in community realities.