Community-Centered Assessment to Inform Pandemic Response in Georgia (US)

Tabia Henry Akintobi (), Rakale C. Quarells, Robert A. Bednarczyk, Saadia Khizer, Brittany D. Taylor, Michelle N. A. Nwagwu, Mekhi Hill, Claudia E. Ordóñez, Gaëlle Sabben, Sedessie Spivey, Kayla Davis, Michael L. Best, Amy Z. Chen, Katherine Lovell, Leslie S. Craig and Mohamed Mubasher
Additional contact information
Tabia Henry Akintobi: Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
Rakale C. Quarells: Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
Robert A. Bednarczyk: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Saadia Khizer: Vaccination Trial Unit, Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
Brittany D. Taylor: Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
Michelle N. A. Nwagwu: Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
Mekhi Hill: Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
Claudia E. Ordóñez: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Gaëlle Sabben: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Sedessie Spivey: DeKalb County Board of Health, Decatur, GA 30031, USA
Kayla Davis: DeKalb County Board of Health, Decatur, GA 30031, USA
Michael L. Best: Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
Amy Z. Chen: Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
Katherine Lovell: Southside Medical Center, Atlanta, GA 30315, USA
Leslie S. Craig: Independent Researcher, Bridgetown 15001, Barbados
Mohamed Mubasher: Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: The Georgia Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities Project conducts community-engaged research and outreach to address misinformation and mistrust, to promote inclusion of diverse racial and ethnic populations in clinical trials and increase testing and vaccination uptake. Guided by its Community Coalition Board, The GEORGIA CEAL Survey was administered among Black and Latinx Georgia 18 years and older to learn about community knowledge, perceptions, understandings, and behaviors regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccines. Survey dissemination occurred using survey links generated through Qualtrics and disseminated among board members and other statewide networks. Characteristics of focus counties were (a) highest proportion of 18 years and older Black and Latinx residents; (b) lowest COVID-19 testing rates; and (c) highest SVI values. The final sample included 2082 surveyed respondents. The majority of participants were men (57.1%) and Latinx (62.8%). Approximately half of the sample was aged 18–30 (49.2%); the mean age of the sample was 33.2 years (SD = 9.0), ranging from 18 to 82 years of age. Trusted sources of COVID-19 information that significantly predicted the likelihood of vaccination included their doctor/health care provider ( p -value: 0.0054), a clinic ( p -value: 0.006), and university hospitals ( p -value: 0.0024). Latinx/non-Latinx, Blacks vs. Latinx, Whites were significantly less likely to get tested and/or vaccinated. Non-Latinx, Blacks had higher mean knowledge scores than Latinx, Whites (12.1 vs. 10.9, p < 0.001) and Latinx, Blacks (12.1 vs. 9.6, respectively, p < 0.001). The mean knowledge score was significantly lower in men compared to women (10.3 vs. 11.0, p = 0.001), in those who had been previously tested for COVID-19 compared to those who had never been tested (10.5 vs. 11.5, respectively, p = 0.005), and in those who did not receive any dose of vaccination compared to those who were fully vaccinated (10.0 vs. 11.0, respectively, p < 0.001). These data provide a benchmark for future comparisons of the trajectory of public attitudes and practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also point to the importance of tailoring communication strategies to specific cultural, racial, and ethnic groups to ensure that community-specific barriers to and determinants of health-seeking behaviors are appropriately addressed.

Keywords: community-powered research; quantitative data; public health response; disproportionately impacted communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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