Peace-Tuskey Kim, Barrales Sarah, Ramirez Sandra Ortega, Ganthier Lovely
Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2025 Mar 24. doi: 10.1007/s40615-025-02347-3.
To identify systemic barriers leading to health inequities and health promoters experienced peri- and post-COVID-19 that impacted the health outcomes of women residing in geopolitical borderland communities of southern Arizona. Community-directed interventions that improve community health were sought.
In 2023, we collected survey, interview, and focus group data documenting reported healthcare access, safety, stress, and discrimination experienced by a community of predominantly Mexican-origin women. Community-based participatory research and intersectional approaches were utilized. Data were analyzed and translated through group consensus processes.
Mental health was the most significant health concern, and social support was identified as the greatest promoter of health. A grounded theory model emerged depicting the overarching theme, Building Strength and Inclusion Through Connection During COVID-19 and describing lived experiences of the community. Ten community-directed intervention strategies were developed and disseminated to decision-makers for improved community health.
Underrepresented border communities bear the undue burden of health inequity underpinned by restrictive immigration policies and exclusion to critical resources. As communities recover from the impacts of COVID-19, intervention and prevention efforts must include organic local knowledge that accelerates public health. This study is crucial for community health practice and policy and presents emergent grounded theory, community-led praxis processes leading to effective health improvement strategies, and five key insights that inform future studies and programs.
确定导致健康不平等的系统性障碍，以及在新冠疫情期间及之后经历的影响居住在亚利桑那州南部地缘政治边境社区妇女健康结果的健康促进因素。寻求改善社区健康的社区导向干预措施。
2023年，我们收集了调查、访谈和焦点小组数据，记录了一个主要为墨西哥裔妇女社区报告的医疗保健可及性、安全性、压力和歧视情况。采用了基于社区的参与性研究和交叉性方法。数据通过小组共识过程进行分析和翻译。
心理健康是最主要的健康问题，社会支持被确定为最大的健康促进因素。出现了一个扎根理论模型，描绘了总体主题“在新冠疫情期间通过联系建立力量和包容”，并描述了该社区的生活经历。制定了10项社区导向干预策略并分发给决策者，以改善社区健康。
代表性不足的边境社区承受着健康不平等的不当负担，这种负担由限制性移民政策和关键资源的排斥所支撑。随着社区从新冠疫情的影响中恢复，干预和预防努力必须包括加速公共卫生的有机地方知识。这项研究对社区健康实践和政策至关重要，并呈现了新兴的扎根理论、导致有效健康改善策略的社区主导实践过程，以及为未来研究和项目提供信息的五个关键见解。
