Characterizing Latino Health Networks using community based participatory research

Social support network characteristics have been associated with decreased morbidity and mortality and increased quality of life. Little is known about the function and structure of Latino health networks in urban communities and the mechanism for how these networks impact health and health behaviors. As part of the Washington Heights/Inwood Infrastructure for Comparative Effectiveness Research (WICER) project, we enrolled community residents in an ongoing blood pressure (BP) registry through advertising at community organizations and clinics for free BP screening and counseling. We found that over 95% of BP screening attendees opted to participate in the registry.  The registry also included a comprehensive social determinants and health networks survey. Additionally, participants could grant permission to link these surveys with their medical record data.  We created a network map to identify nodes and relationships among community members in the registry. To date, 348 egos have identified more than 985 alters as a part of their health networks.  Most alters shared similar educational, ethnic and geographic characteristics. Of the 348 egos, 92 (26% of egos) named another ego in the registry as an alter. Furthermore, 31 alters were named by 1 other ego, 10 by 2 other egos, and 4 by 3 other egos.  In a large urban community setting we report that 25% of Latino registry participants state health information relationships with other members of the community.  In the future, using the results from this analysis may influence health care policy and the way information and resources are disseminated throughout a community.