Community-Based Health Research
RTI's community-based research has led to the development of innovative methods by our Urban Health Program to study marginalized and hidden populations in urban settings. This program combines our expertise in infectious disease, drug use, incarceration, racism, violence, and sexual health to conduct culturally relevant research with marginalized populations.
Under the direction of Alex Kral, PhD, our work seeks to reduce health inequities by building knowledge, helping to develop and improve interventions, and informing policy. With more than 20 years of experience conducting community-based research, we have developed innovative methods for reaching, studying and responding to the needs of hard-to-reach groups. We use quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to better understand the personal, social, and structural factors that affect health behaviors and health outcomes among the urban poor.
Urban Health Program Practice Areas
- Substance use epidemiology and interventions (led by Alex Kral, PhD)
- Social determinants of infectious disease (led by Jennifer Lorvick, DrPH)
- Effects of incarceration on community health (led by Megan Comfort, PhD)
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Sexual health and inequalities (led by Sonya Arreola, PhD)
Related Research
Injection Drug Users in Greatest Need of Substance Abuse Treatment
A study by researchers at RTI International has found that injection drug users are in greater need of substance abuse treatment compared to non-injecting drug users.