Promotores' perspectives on a male-to-male peer network.
Little documentation exists about male community health workers (promotores) networks. The experiences of promotores can provide input on how to attract, train, supervise and maintain male promotores in CHW programs. We present the experience and perspectives of promotores who participated in a male promotores network assisting Latino immigrant men in an emerging Latino community. All promotores in this community-based participatory study received payment for work 10 hours a week. We conducted qualitative interviews with all promotores starting the program, after 5 and 13 months. Three main themes emerged: 1) Men decided to become promotores to help others, yet appreciated being paid. 2) Promotores' learning experience was ongoing and was facilitated by a cooperative dynamic among them. Learning how to listen was crucial for promotores 3) Promotores experienced difficulty separating their personal lives form their role as a promotor We conclude that paying promotores facilitates the fulfillment of their drive to serve the community. Enhancing listening abilities needs to be part of promotores' training curricula. Finally, it is advisable to build a project with many opportunities for promotores and project staff to share professional and non-professional time and discuss their challenges.
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15261 PA, USA.
Laura
L
Macia
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15261 PA, USA Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15261 PA, USA.
Hector Camilo
HC
Ruiz
Latino Engagement Group for Salud (LEGS), Pittsburgh, 15261 PA, USA.
Roberto
R
Boyzo
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15261 PA, USA pdocumet@pitt.edu.
Patricia Isabel
PI
Documet
D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000523:psychology; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group