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2023-11-15
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Opinion Editorials
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Copyright (c) 2023 Hannah Matthews
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The role of social capital in healthcare
a lesson from the connectedness of rural sugar cane farm communities in the Dominican Republic
Hannah Matthews
UMN Duluth Medical Student
Abstract
Social capital, including networks, relationships, and social bonds within communities, fosters trust, reciprocity, and cooperation among members. The Dominican Republic, though lacking physical capital, has collectivist values and a rich social capital that has been harnessed by community health workers and physicians of One World Surgery to address the unique health challenges faced by individuals living in rural areas. By tapping into the expansive social networks also found within rural communities in the United States, we can foster better healthcare access, increased social support, and more effective community-based interventions.
