Exploring Community Health Workers: From Inception to Addressing Healthcare Disparities, Medical Mistrust, and Culturally Competent Care

Abstract

This comprehensive review explores the evolving landscape of community health, focusing on its significance in addressing health disparities and advancing health equity. Drawing from scholarly articles, reports, and case studies, the analysis delineates the multifaceted nature of community health, emphasizing its role in engaging marginalized populations and addressing social determinants of health. Through an integrative review of interventions, the study defines community health as a collaborative enterprise grounded in public health science and evidence-based strategies to optimize defined communities' health and quality of life. Critical principles for advancing community health include multi-sector collaboration, evidence-based strategies, community engagement, and continuous evaluation. The review highlights the crucial role of community health workers (CHWs) in bridging gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their invaluable contributions, CHWs face systemic barriers that hinder their full potential. The analysis underscores the need for increased representation of CHWs in healthcare decision-making processes and the importance of addressing systemic inequalities to foster a more inclusive healthcare system. Overall, the review provides insights into the structural characteristics of community health and calls for concerted efforts to empower CHWs and advance health equity.