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Latino-to-Latino: Promotores’ Beliefs on Engaging Latino Participants in Autism Research

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Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

In Latino(a) communities, promotores de salud (i.e., community health workers; promotores) are becoming critical participants in prevention, health promotion, and the delivery of health care. Although involving culturally diverse participants in research is a national priority, recruitment and retention of research participants from these groups is challenging. Therefore, there is an increased need to identify strategies for successful recruitment of participants from underrepresented minority backgrounds. Our overall study purpose was to gain promotores’ perspectives on recruiting Latino(a) immigrant community members for an intervention study on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The goal of this paper is to explore insider promotores’ views on the barriers and facilitators to research participation in the Latino(a) community and learn strategies for recruiting Latino(a) participants in a nontraditional destination city.

Methods

We conducted qualitative focus groups with an established group of promotores known as Latinos Unidos por la Salud (LU-Salud), who were members of a community-academic research team. Fifteen LU-Salud promotores participated in the focus groups. Focus group interviews were analyzed by using Leininger’s data analysis enabler. These results will inform our partnerships with promotores and Latino(a) neighborhood agencies to increase recruitment for community-based research on promoting awareness of ASD among Latino(a) families.

Results

Promotores were credible community members able to gain community trust and committed to improving the health and well-being of their Latino(a) community, including involving them in research. Latino(a) research involvement meant facilitating community members’ engagement to overcome barriers of distrust around legal and health care systems. Challenges included legal uncertainties, language and literacy barriers, health knowledge, and economic hardship. Promotores also voiced the diversity of cultural practices (subcultures) within the Latino(a) culture that influenced: (1) research engagement, (2) guidance from promotores, (3) immersion in the Latino(a) community, and (4) health and well-being. Experienced promotores, who are living in a nontraditional migration area, believe the primary facilitator to increasing research involvement is Latino(a)-to-Latino(a) recruitment.

Conclusions

These findings will aid in building partnerships to recruit participants for future studies that promote early recognition of ASD in the Latino(a) community.

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Acknowledgements

This study represents a collaborative effort between the authors, promotores, and local community organizations. We are deeply grateful to the promotores for their significant contributions to this work.

Availability of data and material

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to the need to preserve confidentiality for the participants but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Funding

The Cincinnati Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) funded this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center/University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Karen Burkett & Kelly I. Kamimura-Nishimura

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Gabriela Suarez-Cano

  3. Department of Developmental Pediatrics, Siskin Children’s Institute Center for Developmental Pediatrics, 1101 Carter Street, Chattanooga, TN, 37402, USA

    Lorena Ferreira-Corso

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 210376, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Farrah Jacquez

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center/University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC 2008, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Lisa M. Vaughn

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  1. Karen Burkett
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  6. Lisa M. Vaughn
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Contributions

All authors have participated in (a) conception and design or analysis and interpretation of the data; (b) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and (c) approval of the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen Burkett.

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Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center provided the Institutional Review Board approval to conduct this study. Informed consents were obtained for all participants in this study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Burkett, K., Kamimura-Nishimura, K.I., Suarez-Cano, G. et al. Latino-to-Latino: Promotores’ Beliefs on Engaging Latino Participants in Autism Research. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 9, 1125–1134 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01053-0

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