Knowledge and Beliefs about COVID-19 among migrant women: A qualitative study.

Abstract

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the Spanish population, as well as on Social Determinants of Health among which sex, sex/being a woman and being a migrant stand out. The goal of this study was to describe the beliefs and knowledge that migrant women from a racialised neighbourhood had about COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this, a qualitative study was carried out in a particular neighbourhood in Mallorca. The analysis used a hybrid-focus with a coding tree that was open to other emerging categories, segmented as per the variables of having contracted COVID-19 or not having contracted the virus. 20 adult migrant women were interviewed and 7 categories emerged from their discourses: (1) regarding knowledge of the virus; (2) sources of information; (3) incorrect beliefs about the virus and use of home remedies; (4) economic difficulties when complying with prevention measures; (5) general and specific knowledge about diagnostic testing; (6) regarding difficulties on isolating themselves; and (7) vaccination acceptance. We found differences in favour of women with an academic background. These women were more empowered, being more critical of the information they were given and able to look for resources in the community, Making sex inequalities more visible—both existing and emerging— will help to generate effective public policies that promote equality in healthcare and social spheres