Community perceptions of the health equity navigators program: a cross-sectional study in rural and medically underserved areas of Georgia, USA

Health navigation programs are increasingly gaining attention as a promising strategy to promote healthcare access and reduce disparities, particularly in underserved and rural communities. This study explores community perceptions of the Health Equity Navigators Program, identifies socio-demographic factors associated with perceived helpfulness in improving healthcare access and navigation, and highlights practical implications for tailoring and implementing similar programs in underserved settings. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 269 adults residing in rural and urban medically underserved areas. Participants completed items assessing demographic characteristics, healthcare access, and perceived benefits of the "Health Equity Navigators" Program using a Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize perceptions, and ordinal logistic regression models were applied to examine demographic predictors of agreement with the program's ability to improve healthcare-seeking efficiency. The Majority of participants (69.1%) live in rural areas, with females (79.6%) and Black/African Americans (59.6%) being the most prevalent groups. Most participants agreed or strongly agreed that the program improved their knowledge (Mean = 4.0, SD = 0.8), awareness (Mean = 4.1, SD = 0.9), and ability to navigate healthcare services (Mean = 4.0, SD = 0.8). Perceptions were significantly more favorable when neutral responses were excluded (p < 0.0001). In adjusted models, males (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.08–3.96) and unemployed individuals (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.06–3.75) were significantly more likely to report high agreement, while African American/Black participants had lower odds of strong agreement compared to Non-Hispanic White participants (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34–0.92). The Health Equity Navigators Program was positively perceived by community members in rural and underserved areas. Key insights suggest that tailoring outreach by gender and employment status, ensuring cultural relevance, adapting delivery for rural settings, and investing in navigator training are essential for effectiveness. Embedding Health Equity Navigators in care teams and building local partnerships are critical for long-term sustainability. These findings offer practical guidance for scaling similar programs to advance health equity.