Community Perceptions of the “Health Equity Navigators” Program: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural and Underserved US Populations

Background 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 examines community perceptions of the Health Equity Navigators Program and identifies socio-demographic predictors of perceived helpfulness in improving healthcare access and navigation. Methods 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. Results The Majority of the participants (69.1%) live in rural areas, females (79.6%), and Black/African Americans (59.6%). 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). Conclusions The “Health Equity Navigators” Program was positively received across demographic groups in the rural and underserved communities. However, differential perceptions by race and residential settings highlight the need to tailor health navigator models to the specific needs of the populations. A tailored program implementation is critical in addressing structural barriers and advancing health equity in medically underserved areas.