Mitigating SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Hispanic and Latino Communities—Prince William Health District, Virginia, June 2020

Abstract

Objectives To identify factors contributing to disproportionate rates of COVID-19 among Hispanic or Latino persons in Prince William Health District, Virginia, and to identify measures to better engage Hispanic and Latino communities in COVID-19 mitigation. Methods Data collection proceeded via three methods in June 2020: a quantitative survey of Hispanic or Latino residents, key informant interviews with local leaders familiar with this population, and focus group discussions with Hispanic or Latino community members. Results Those who worked outside the home, lived in larger households, or lived with someone who had tested positive were more likely to report testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (unadjusted odds ratios of 2.5, 1.2, and 12.9, respectively). Difficulty implementing COVID-19 prevention practices (reported by 46% of survey respondents), immigration-related fears (repeatedly identified in qualitative data), and limited awareness of local COVID-19 resources (57% of survey respondents spoke little or no English) were identified. Survey respondents also reported declines in their food security (25%) and mental health (25%). Conclusions Specific attention to the needs of Hispanic or Latino communities could help reduce the burden of COVID-19. The investigation methods can also be used by other jurisdictions to evaluate the needs of and services provided to diverse underserved populations.

Factors related to COVID-19 vaccine intention in Latino communities

“…Immigration concerns also deterred Latino communities from considering being vaccinated/tested. Although this study included urban and rural Latino communities in California mostly from Mexico, similar findings were also reported in the state of Virginia among Latino communities from other heritages [ 26 ]. Latino immigrants’ avoidance of public benefit programs was known before the pandemic [ 28 ], however a study [ 29 ] found that the avoidance of public resources among Latino immigrant families intensified after the 2016 presidential election.…”

“…The few studies that focused on the impact of COVID-19 on Latino communities consistently found that these communities reported the financial constraints that threaten employment and immigration status especially if they tested positive [ 21 , 24 , 25 ]. Since many Latino individuals work in occupations considered essential and are likely to work in conditions with limited access to proper PPE and limited social distancing [ 26 , 27 ], their risk for COVID-19 further contributes to financial concerns.…”

The blueprint of disaster: COVID-19, the Flint water crisis, and unequal ecological impacts

“…28,29 The pandemic has shown that there are not only material barriers to care, but also racial, ethnic, and political difficulties in the uptake of mitigation protocols, associated with factors ranging from structural racism to health efficacy, or confidence in one's ability to pursue a healthy life, and health literacy. 28,30 COVID-19 will stand as a particular flash point, as the ruptures of trust happen not just between the public and the government and healthcare institutions (eg, local hospitals, public health officials, 31,32 The ubiquity of this discord suggests that mixed adoption of COVID-19 mitigation strategies is reflective of other forms of social and bodily resistance related to political philosophy and stigma and blame. This observation builds on research emphasising the spatial dynamics of differentiation in this erosion of trust.…”

“…The pandemic has shown that there are not only material barriers to care, but also racial, ethnic, and political difficulties in the uptake of mitigation protocols, associated with factors ranging from structural racism to health efficacy, or confidence in one's ability to pursue a healthy life, and health literacy. 28 , 30 COVID-19 will stand as a particular flash point, as the ruptures of trust happen not just between the public and the government and health-care institutions (eg, local hospitals, public health officials, the US National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) but, crucially, within communities, as neighbours engage in fractious debates on the nature of the COVID-19 threat in public spaces and online. 31 , 32 The ubiquity of this discord suggests that mixed adoption of COVID-19 mitigation strategies is reflective of other forms of social and bodily resistance related to political philosophy and stigma and blame.…”

Food Insecurity among International Migrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

“…( Table 2 ). Thirty-five studies mainly or totally used the term “food insecurity” [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ], six used “food security” [ 25 , 30 , 32 , 63 , 64 , 65 ], and five used both [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ].…”