Dataset from Leveraging Bio-Cultural Mechanisms to Maximize the Impact of Multi-Level Preventable Disease Interventions with Southwest Populations

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate a community-driven and culturally congruent intervention to increase access to testing by identifying and decreasing barriers to testing in vulnerable and underserved communities across Arizona.

Materials/Methods: The methodology followed a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) orientation to identify and prioritize testing deserts, coordinate testing at different levels of the social ecosystem, engage and train local community health workers to deliver saliva-based COVID-19 testing to vulnerable and underserved community members, deliver test results within 72 hours, provide wrap-around services and provider referrals for those testing positive, and sustain the intervention during a follow-up period.

Outcome/Impact: The intervention reduced disparities in COVID-19 diagnostics with the goal of improving the health of underserved among Arizona's Latinx, American Indian, and African American communities. The intervention increased the capacity of participating underserved communities and partner organizations to redouble their efforts to eliminate COVID-19 related disparities.