Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Journal of Primary Care & Community Health30 Sep 2026

Challenges of Community Participation in Primary Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Reviews

Muhammad Abuarrah¹
Fatemeh Khosravi²
Mohsen Khosravi³

¹Biomedical Sciences Department, Fatima College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
²School of medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
³Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

Introduction/Objectives: Community participation in Primary Health Care (PHC) is of significant importance. This study aimed to investigate the challenges and barriers of Community Participation in PHC.

Methods: This was a systematic review of reviews conducted in 2026. A systematic search was conducted across several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis methodology was employed to analyze the study data.

Results: A total of 13 studies were included. The quality assessment showed that the mean quality score of the selected studies was 92% (SD = 6.1). Thematic analysis yielded three principal themes: Organizational and Structural Barriers, Personal Barriers, and Cultural and Socio-Economic Barriers. Among these, Organizational and Structural Barriers emerged as the most prominent group of barriers to community participation in PHC.

Conclusions: This research delineated categories of barriers to PHC community participation, highlighting the most prominent. Strategies to improve engagement were also proposed. The study highlighted the crucial role of PHC organization and structure in fostering community engagement which can be an important implication for the beneficiaries.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{abuarrah2026challenges,
  title = {{Challenges of Community Participation in Primary Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Reviews}},
  author = {Muhammad Abuarrah and Fatemeh Khosravi and Mohsen Khosravi},
  journal = {Journal of Primary Care \& Community Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1177/21501319261494106},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319261494106},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Challenges of Community Participation in Primary Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Reviews
AU  - Muhammad Abuarrah
AU  - Fatemeh Khosravi
AU  - Mohsen Khosravi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
JO  - Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
DO  - 10.1177/21501319261494106
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319261494106
AB  - Introduction/Objectives: Community participation in Primary Health Care (PHC) is of significant importance. This study aimed to investigate the challenges and barriers of Community Participation in PHC.  Methods: This was a systematic review of reviews conducted in 2026. A systematic search was conducted across several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis methodology was employed to analyze the study data.  Results: A total of 13 studies were included. The quality assessment showed that the mean quality score of the selected studies was 92% (SD = 6.1). Thematic analysis yielded three principal themes: Organizational and Structural Barriers, Personal Barriers, and Cultural and Socio-Economic Barriers. Among these, Organizational and Structural Barriers emerged as the most prominent group of barriers to community participation in PHC.  Conclusions: This research delineated categories of barriers to PHC community participation, highlighting the most prominent. Strategies to improve engagement were also proposed. The study highlighted the crucial role of PHC organization and structure in fostering community engagement which can be an important implication for the beneficiaries.
SN  - 2150-1319
SN  - 2150-1327
ER  -

Abstract

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