Perceptions of the Coronavirus and COVID-19 testing and vaccination in Latinx and Indigenous Mexican immigrant communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley

Abstract

Background A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (known as COVID-19), spread rapidly around the world, affecting all and creating an ongoing global pandemic. Across the United States, Latinx and Indigenous populations have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 cases and death rates. An examination of the perceptions and beliefs about the spread of the virus, COVID-19 testing, and vaccination amongst racial-ethnic minority groups, specifically Latinx and Indigenous Latin American immigrant communities, is needed to alleviate the widespread disparity in new cases and deaths. Methods This study was carried out from August 2020 to January 2021 and used community-based participatory research to engage community partners and build the capacity of community health workers (i.e., promotores de salud) and pre-medical and medical students in conducting qualitative research. The objective of the study was to examine the structural and social determinants of health on perceptions of the coronavirus, its spread, and decisions around COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Data collection included ethnography involving observations in public settings and focus groups with members of Latinx and Indigenous Mexican farm-working communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley, located in the Inland Southern California desert region. A total of seven focus groups, six in Spanish and one in Purépecha, with a total of 55 participants were conducted. Topics covered include perceptions of the coronavirus and its spread, as well as COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Results Using theme identification techniques, the findings identify structural and social factors that underly perceptions held by Latinx and Indigenous Mexican immigrants about the virus and COVID-19, which, in turn, shape attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Common themes that emerged across focus groups include misinformation, lack of trust in institutions, and insecurity around employment and residency. Conclusions This immigrant population is structurally vulnerable to historical and present-day inequalities that put them at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure, morbidity, and mortality. Study findings indicate a significant need for interventions that decrease structural vulnerabilities by addressing issues of (dis)trust in government and public health among this population.

“What should I do? We still have to go to work”: Latino immigrant perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine

“…Interview data suggests emotional stress stems from multiple factors, including income instability, infection and transmission, and inability to visit or spend time with family. Overrepresentation in essential jobs increases exposure to the virus while threatening income stability, all of which contributes to emotional distress indicated in other research (Gehlbach et al, 2022;Gil et al, 2020). Latinos are also disproportionately represented in industries that were vulnerable to the economic shutdown (i.e.…”

“…Participants expressed confusion regarding COVID-19 and antibody tests and the vaccine, perceiving it would infect them with the virus. This and another study found undocumented participants had little trust in testing sites, believing their employer would be notified if they tested positive and that testing could lead to deportation, creating elevated levels of stress (Gehlbach et al, 2022;Ross et al, 2021). These misperceptions were attributed to the fragmented response and initial denial of the virus by the Trump administration (Gehlbach et al, 2022).…”

“…This and another study found undocumented participants had little trust in testing sites, believing their employer would be notified if they tested positive and that testing could lead to deportation, creating elevated levels of stress (Gehlbach et al, 2022;Ross et al, 2021). These misperceptions were attributed to the fragmented response and initial denial of the virus by the Trump administration (Gehlbach et al, 2022). Anti-immigrant sentiments contributed to a lack of trust in government and other formal institutions, allowing conspiracy theories to flourish in immigrant communities; individuals feared the pandemic was an effort to control them through a microchip and that the vaccine would make them sick or lead to genocide (Gehlbach et al, 2022).…”

“…Other evidence shows a lack of clear and consistent COVID-19 information and a lack of Spanish language resources contributed to mistrust, confusion, and fear during the onset of the pandemic (Garcini et al , 2021; Velasquez et al , 2020). This was especially prevalent among Latino and Indigenous Mexican immigrants in Southern California (Gehlbach et al , 2022). Participants expressed confusion regarding COVID-19 and antibody tests and the vaccine, perceiving it would infect them with the virus.…”

“…Given low vaccine rates in Latinos, we also sought to understand perceptions and barriers of the vaccine. This project took place in February to April 2021, when anti-immigrant sentiments continued to echo throughout the United States, elevating feelings of fear and insecurity surrounding the pandemic, and feelings of distrust toward government entities (Gehlbach et al , 2022). Given Camino Health Center’s long history of trust among Latinos, we were well-positioned to collect this data.…”