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. 2022 Apr;9(2):390-398.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-021-00968-y. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

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

Elizabeth Davlantes  1 , Ashley Tippins  2 , Catherine Espinosa  2 , Hannah Lofgren  2 , Sarah Leonard  2 , Monica Solis  3 , Andrea Young  3 , Denise Sockwell  3 , Alison Ansher  3
Affiliations

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

Elizabeth Davlantes et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2022 Apr.

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hispanic; Latino; Spanish.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Survey respondents’ reasons for undergoing SARS-CoV-2 testing (n = 161)—June 2020
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Impact of COVID-19 on survey respondents (n = 161)—June 2020
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. United States Census Bureau. Quick facts: Prince William County, Virginia: United States Department of Commerce; 2019. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/princewilliamcountyvirginia....
    1. Virginia Department of Health. COVID-19 in Virginia: demographics: Virginia Department of Health; 2020. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virgini....
    1. Kaiser Family Foundation. COVID-19 cases by race/ethnicity: Kaiser Family Foundation; 2020. https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/covid-19-cases-by-race-ethnici....
    1. Macias Gil R, Marcelin JR, Zuniga-Blanco B, Marquez C, Mathew T, Piggott DA. COVID-19 pandemic: disparate health impact on the Hispanic/Latinx population in the United States. J Infect Dis. 2020;222:1592–1595. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa474. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. United States Census Bureau. Quick facts: United States: United States Department of Commerce; 2019. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045219.

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