An integral member of an African refugee's healthcare team: the community health worker

All patients should be seen through a cultural lens however, refugees require this perspective as their past and journey have greater effects on their health. Meaningful evidence has been published regarding refugee patients and their unique circumstances in healthcare. To address these complexities of refugee health, community health workers should be integrated as a member of a refugee patient's healthcare team. Previous evidence supports the role of community health workers in the healthcare field as their shared experiences and cultural knowledge provides a unique perspective that bridges culture and health. This systematic review and subsequent interviews provide meaningful evidence that further sustains this role. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in which evidence published in the US, 2013-present, using PubMed and Google Scholar search engines was evaluated. A total of 249 were retrieved, 16 articles met the criteria demonstrating evidence of the participation and active role of CHWs in a refugee's healthcare. These articles were further reviewed to analyze the specific roles and effects of CHWs in refugee patients' healthcare. To further understand the effect of CHWs in an African refugee patient's clinical experience, community health workers and healthcare providers were interviewed, and their responses analyzed. RESULTS: The comprehensive review of published literature showed that CHWs are a vital role in refugee patient healthcare by successfully navigating patients through complex healthcare systems, providing culturally appropriate care, and bridging the gap between health and culture. The interviews furthered understanding of CHWs role in a clinical setting specifically while working with African refugee patients. CONCLUSIONS: This project adds to the existing evidence supporting the integration of CHWs into an African refugee's healthcare team. This study reinforces CHWs importance in healthcare as they use their cultural expertise to facilitate trust among patients and facilitate appropriate care.