Attitudes, perceptions, and preferences towards SARS CoV-2 testing and vaccination among African American and Hispanic public housing residents, New York City: 2020-2021

African American and Hispanic populations have been affected disproportionately by COVID-19. Reasons are multifactorial and include social and structural determinants of health. During the onset and height of the pandemic, evidence suggested decreased access to SARS CoV-2 testing. In 2020, the Natio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2023-01, Vol.18 (1), p.e0280460-e0280460
Main Authors: Izeogu, Chigozirim, Gill, Emily, Van Allen, Kaitlyn, Williams, Natasha, Thorpe, Lorna E, Shelley, Donna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans
Attitudes
Biology and Life Sciences
Black or African American
Collaboration
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - prevention & control
COVID-19 diagnostic tests
COVID-19 vaccines
Earth Sciences
Epidemics
FDA approval
Fear
Focus groups
Health attitudes
Hispanic Americans
Hispanic or Latino
Housing
Housing developments
Humans
Immunization
Information sources
Medicine and Health Sciences
Neighborhoods
New York
New York City - epidemiology
Onsite
Pandemics
Personal information
Populations
Public health
Public Housing
Public opinion
Residential areas
Residential buildings
Safety
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Social Sciences
Surveys
Trustworthiness
United States
Urban poor
Vaccination
Vaccines
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Summary:African American and Hispanic populations have been affected disproportionately by COVID-19. Reasons are multifactorial and include social and structural determinants of health. During the onset and height of the pandemic, evidence suggested decreased access to SARS CoV-2 testing. In 2020, the National Institutes of Health launched the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx)- Underserved Populations initiative to improve SARS CoV-2 testing in underserved communities. In this study, we explored attitudes, experiences, and barriers to SARS CoV-2 testing and vaccination among New York City public housing residents. Between December 2020 and March 2021, we conducted 9 virtual focus groups among 36 low-income minority residents living in New York City public housing. Among residents reporting a prior SARS CoV-2 test, main reasons for testing were to prepare for a medical procedure or because of a high-risk exposure. Barriers to testing included fear of discomfort from the nasal swab, fear of exposure to COVID-19 while traveling to get tested, concerns about the consequences of testing positive and the belief that testing was not necessary. Residents reported a mistrust of information sources and the health care system in general; they depended more on "word of mouth" for information. The major barrier to vaccination was lack of trust in vaccine safety. Residents endorsed more convenient testing, onsite testing at residential buildings, and home self-test kits. Residents also emphasized the need for language-concordant information sharing and for information to come from "people who look like [them] and come from the same background as [them]". Barriers to SARS CoV-2 testing and vaccination centered on themes of a lack of accurate information, fear, mistrust, safety, and convenience. Resident-endorsed strategies to increase testing include making testing easier to access either through home or onsite testing locations. Education and information sharing by trusted members of the community are important tools to combat misinformation and build trust.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0280460