Using social network analysis to map an emerging national Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander health equity network

Background: Federal agencies, foundations, academic institutions, and organizations are increasingly interested in assessing the strength and scale of networks and coalitions. Social network analysis (SNA) can be a tool to understand depth of relationships, extent of clustering/segregation, and degree of connection. Given the diversity of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI)-serving organizations, SNA has provided significant insight into developing an AA and NHPI health equity network.

Objectives: Identify opportunities and challenges for building AA and NHPI collaboratives by mapping a national health equity network.

Methods: Researchers conducted a SNA using a snowball sample from 47 local organizations advancing AA and NHPI health equity. Respondents provided demographic information, identified additional partners, and rated their relationship with these partners using a four-point interaction scale from no interaction to collaboration. Identified partners were then surveyed for the same information.  1,470 organizations were identified spanning 34 states and six U.S. Pacific Islands.

Results: While many public health partnerships are place-based, the AA and NHPI network formation is unique with partners also connecting regionally and cross-regionally. Multi-ethnic AA and NHPI organizations play a key role in connecting ethnic-specific counterparts to the broader network. Organizations key to network cohesion and diversity may not have the most connections or occupy the most central positions.

Conclusion: Utilizing SNA provides useful insights and offers unique perspectives to building health equity networks. Many opportunities exist for this emerging network to serve as a force for AA and NHPI communities and their ensured health and well-being.