How Healthy Are Community Health Workers: Findings from a Chicago-Area Survey

Abstract

Community health workers (CHWs) are a growing and essential component of the U.S. healthcare workforce, yet little is known about their own health and well-being. The CHWs Our Work + Our Health Pilot Study administered a cross-sectional survey to a convenience sample of CHWs living and/or working in the Chicago metropolitan area. The survey assessed general health, chronic conditions, health behaviors, and mental health using validated, standardized measures. Prevalence estimates were compared to Chicago population data using two-proportion z-tests. The final analytic sample included 179 CHWs, predominantly female (85.5%), Hispanic (63.7%) or non-Hispanic Black (32.4%). CHWs reported significantly worse outcomes than the general Chicago population in general health, mental distress, emotional support, and sleep, while reporting lower rates of hypertension, obesity, and high cholesterol. Nearly one-third reported fair or poor health and nearly 40% reported inadequate emotional support. Economic hardship was substantial, with 35.9% earning below $25,000 annually and 61.9% delaying medical care due to cost. Chicago-area CHWs present a mixed but concerning health profile marked by significant mental health burden and economic precarity, underscoring the need for targeted employer and policy investments to sustain this essential workforce.