Rural Community Engagement for Health Disparities Research: The Unique Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Abstract

Reducing health disparities in rural communities of color remains a national concern. Efforts to reduce health disparities often center on community engagement, which is historically the strategy used to provide rural minority populations with support to access and utilize health information and services. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with their origins derived from social injustices and discrimination, are uniquely positioned to conduct this type of engagement. We present the “Research with Care” project, a long-standing positive working relationship between North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and rural Halifax County, North Carolina, demonstrating an effective campus–community partnership. The importance of readiness to implement Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles is underscored. As demonstrated by the NCCU–Halifax partnership, we recommend leveraging the positive associations of the HBCU brand identity as a method of building and sustaining meaningful relationships with rural Black communities. This underscores the role and value of HBCUs in the health disparities research arena and should be communicated and embraced.

The relationship between attitudes, racial identity, and perceived mate availability on experiences of intimate partner violence among black women attending HBCUs.

“…It is a symptom of a larger societal issue that needs multi-pronged, tailored prevention and intervention approaches. Per Taylor et al (2021), HBCU campuses can be important contextual and cultural spaces to identify prevention, intervention, and outreach strategies to address disparities on campus and within the surrounding communities. Several HBCU campuses are located within Black communities and campuses can be a vessel for campus and communal change.…”

Centering Health Equity Through the Social Determinants of Health, Interprofessional Education, and Sustainable Partnerships With Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Envisioning Upstream and Downstream Impacts

“…HBCUs have a history of partnering with other nonminority serving institutions (MSIs) and developing community and/or faith-based initiatives to address disparities in health and health care (Campbell et al, 2020;Hudson et al, 2021;McWhirter et al, 2003;Patterson, 2021;Taylor et al, 2020;Treadwell et al, 2009). While HBCUs Source: 1 1920 census data (United States Census Bureau, 1922) and 2 2020 census data (Jones et al, 2021).…”

“…Not only can partnering institutions advance knowledge and practice, but faculty and students can benefit as well (Hudson et al, 2021). Non-MSI institutions can learn about SDOH curricular innovations and how HBCU faculties have been empowered through leadership development and through collaborative and innovative pedagogical skills (Taylor et al, 2020).…”

“…HBCUs have a history of partnering with other non-minority serving institutions (MSIs) and developing community and/or faith-based initiatives to address disparities in health and health care (Campbell et al, 2020; Hudson et al, 2021; McWhirter et al, 2003; Patterson, 2021; Taylor et al, 2020; Treadwell et al, 2009). While HBCUs have been historically and systemically marginalized, underfunded, and under-resourced (Hollis-Staten et al, 2012; Waite et al, 2023), they have successfully graduated outstanding, world-renowned leaders who are social justice advocates.…”

“…Minoritized nursing students often face challenges of underrepresentation of mentors, support, clinical practice opportunities, and lower test performance (Campbell et al, 2020; Treadwell et al, 2009). Partnerships between institutions may offer a path to overcoming barriers and expanding support (Campbell et al, 2020; Taylor et al, 2020).…”