tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Soc Sci Med
. 2022 Jun 30;307:115185.
doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115185. Online ahead of print.
African Americans and the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative inquiry of preparedness, challenges, and strategies on how we can move forward
Jennifer Cunningham-Erves[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Imari Parham[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Leah Alexander[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jamal Moss[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Iman Barre[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Taneisha Gillyard[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Jamaine Davis[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black Americans. Inequities in systems and social determinants of health along with racial health disparities impact degree of pandemic preparedness.
Objective: In early pandemic stages, we aimed to explore: 1) state of pandemic preparedness; 2) effects of socio-ecological factors on preparedness; and 3) multi-level strategies to increase preparedness among uniquely, vulnerable Black American subgroups.
Methods: We conducted 62 in-depth interviews with Black American community members representing parents, individuals with underlying medical conditions, essential workers, and young adults. Based on the McLeroy's Model Ecological for Health Promotion, an inductive-deductive content analysis approach was used to analyze the interview data around the factors influencing preparedness on individual, interpersonal processes and primary groups, community/institutional, and public policy.
Results: Majority (56.5%) of the participants stated they were somewhat or very prepared. We identified four themes: 1) Lived Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic; 2) Challenges experienced during the COVID-19 Pandemic; 3) I would do this differently they say; 4) Changes Needed to Survive the Pandemic relate to Public Policy, Community/institutional factors, and Interpersonal processes and primary group(s). All participants described their adjustments to live in the new norm. Participants identified perceived challenges and solutions on multi-levels, driven by subgroup.
Conclusions: Pandemic response plans should use targeted strategies across multi-levels to enhance the preparedness of Black Americans, especially those in vulnerable groups. This could reduce the disproportionate COVID-19 disease burden exhibited by Black Americans and better prepare for future pandemics.
Keywords: Black Americans; COVID-19; Coronavirus disease; Preparedness; Public health emergency.
. 2022 Jun 30;307:115185.
doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115185. Online ahead of print.
African Americans and the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative inquiry of preparedness, challenges, and strategies on how we can move forward
Jennifer Cunningham-Erves[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Imari Parham[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Leah Alexander[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jamal Moss[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Iman Barre[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Taneisha Gillyard[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Jamaine Davis[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35793594
- DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115185
Abstract
Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black Americans. Inequities in systems and social determinants of health along with racial health disparities impact degree of pandemic preparedness.
Objective: In early pandemic stages, we aimed to explore: 1) state of pandemic preparedness; 2) effects of socio-ecological factors on preparedness; and 3) multi-level strategies to increase preparedness among uniquely, vulnerable Black American subgroups.
Methods: We conducted 62 in-depth interviews with Black American community members representing parents, individuals with underlying medical conditions, essential workers, and young adults. Based on the McLeroy's Model Ecological for Health Promotion, an inductive-deductive content analysis approach was used to analyze the interview data around the factors influencing preparedness on individual, interpersonal processes and primary groups, community/institutional, and public policy.
Results: Majority (56.5%) of the participants stated they were somewhat or very prepared. We identified four themes: 1) Lived Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic; 2) Challenges experienced during the COVID-19 Pandemic; 3) I would do this differently they say; 4) Changes Needed to Survive the Pandemic relate to Public Policy, Community/institutional factors, and Interpersonal processes and primary group(s). All participants described their adjustments to live in the new norm. Participants identified perceived challenges and solutions on multi-levels, driven by subgroup.
Conclusions: Pandemic response plans should use targeted strategies across multi-levels to enhance the preparedness of Black Americans, especially those in vulnerable groups. This could reduce the disproportionate COVID-19 disease burden exhibited by Black Americans and better prepare for future pandemics.
Keywords: Black Americans; COVID-19; Coronavirus disease; Preparedness; Public health emergency.