PMID: 20629243Jul 16, 2010Paper

Ethnographic evaluation of a research partnership between two African American communities and a university

Ethnicity & Disease
Pauline E Brooks

Abstract

Public health anthropologists at a large urban university and a community advisory board (CAB) representing two African American communities partnered to find clues to the high incidence of African American low birth weight, preterm delivery and infant mortality. Collaborating as equal partners, the Healthy African American Families (HAAF) project ethnographically explored what it means to be African American, pregnant and living in the urban inner city. A team of evaluators used ethnographic methods to study the partnership over a continuous four-year period. The objectives of the evaluation were to study the: a) collaborative partnership; b) levels of community involvement/participation; and c) openness and interactiveness within the partnership. Focusing primarily on the African American communities' contributions to the research partnership, this article also identifies what worked, what didn't work, and what sometimes worked for the partnership as a whole, including the funder's role. The evaluation of university researchers as they conduct their work in partnership with and within communities of color is a new way of learning about partnered research. Findings from this evaluation inform the social science community about...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.