Community-Based Participatory Research for Epidemiology, Health Equity, and Community Goals: Insights From Brazil, France, and USA

Background: Community-based participatory research coproduces knowledge by emphasizing bidirectional exchanges between participants, communities, and researchers.

Purpose, research design, and study sample: We highlight three studies in historically marginalized communities on separate continents (Richmond, CA, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Marseille industrial zone, France) to exemplify how community-based participatory research improves research, offers tangible community benefits, and values residents more than traditional research methods.

Data analysis: We provide insights into the process of conducting meaningful community-based participatory epidemiologic research.

Results: In each of these communities, community-based participatory research led to high-quality research that helped inform context-appropriate policies and programs to improve health and advance health equity in these communities.

Conclusions: We recommend that researchers consistently engage with community members during all phases of research so that they can engage more participants, more deeply in the research process, build local capacity, improve data collection and data quality, as well as increase our understanding of research findings to inform future applied research and practice.