3 research outputs found
Summary of: Reaching Structurally Vulnerable Populations Using Low-Barrier COVID-19 Testing Clinics Co-Created with Community Based Organizations
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected people from structurally vulnerable communities. There was a need to improve COVID-19 testing in these communities to reduce viral spread and connect to treatment.
Study @ Reaching Structurally Vulnerable Populations Using Low-Barrier COVID-1 by David Ngandu, Gloria D Sclar et al.https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/nnectr/1004/thumbnail.jp
Factors Associated with COVID-19 Testing in Structurally Vulnerable Populations: An Exploratory Study in Southern Maine
No full textIntroduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected structurally vulnerable populations in the United States. COVID-19 testing was instrumental in controlling viral spread and linking people to treatment; however, testing rates were lower among racial and ethnic minority groups. Our objective was to identify factors associated with desired COVID-19 testing behavior among vulnerable populations.
Methods: We conducted an exploratory cohort study of at-home COVID-19 testing between March 2022 and November 2023 in Portland, Maine. Partnering with trusted community organizations, we engaged participants from immigrant, housing-unstable, substance-using, and low-income/uninsured communities. Participants received 5 at-home COVID-19 tests every 8 weeks for 48 weeks. Participants completed a baseline survey and follow-up surveys every 4 weeks on COVID-19 exposures and symptoms, as well as use of COVID-19 tests, with additional questions every 8 weeks on behavioral factors (ie, risk perceptions, attitudes, norms) around COVID-19 testing. The primary outcome was “desired testing behavior score,” or the proportion of instances a participant tested when they should have based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Results: We enrolled 93 participants, of whom 39 (42%) were immigrants, 30 (32%) were unhoused or had a history of chronic homelessness, 28 (30%) reported substance use, and 60 (65%) were low income and/or uninsured. Overall, participants tested 66% of the recommended times. In bivariate regression, 4 factors (age, confidence in ability to use a COVID-19 test, perceived usefulness of testing, and commitment to testing) were significantly associated with desired testing behavior. However, these associations were not statistically significant in multivariable linear regression.
Discussion and Conclusions: Participants from vulnerable communities engaged with COVID-19 testing when provided with at-home tests, but more research is needed to understand what factors drive testing behavior
Reaching Structurally Vulnerable Populations Using Low-Barrier COVID-19 Testing Clinics Co-Created with Community-Based Organizations.
No full textBACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected people from structurally vulnerable communities. There was a need to improve COVID-19 testing in these communities to reduce viral spread and connect to treatment.
OBJECTIVE: We created a partnership between an academic medical center and three community-based organizations (CBOs) to offer low-barrier COVID-19 walk-up testing clinics in Portland, Maine. Our objective was to examine whether the co-created testing clinics reached structurally vulnerable populations.
DESIGN: The clinics offered COVID-19 rapid antigen tests three times a week outside CBO sites from January 2022 to May 2023. Clinic staff administered a brief survey on reason for testing and then instructed participants on how to self-swab. While staff processed the test, participants were invited to complete an additional survey about their demographics and testing perceptions.
PARTICIPANTS: Adults seeking COVID-19 testing with specific outreach to people who are unhoused, immigrants, and low-income and/or uninsured.
MAIN MEASURES: Number of tests conducted and result, reasons for testing, and testing perceptions.
KEY RESULTS: Of 246 completed tests, 18 were positive for COVID-19 (7%). Participants sought testing for a variety of reasons, including symptoms (60%), close contact exposure (29%), and/or need for a negative test result to access services or an activity (33%). Overall, people primarily tested due to symptoms with only 7% testing due to close contact exposure alone. The clinics reached vulnerable populations. Among the 130 people completing the participant survey, 39% were unhoused, 22% spoke a language other than English at home, 23% were uninsured, and 46% earned less than $20,000 in 2019. Qualitative field notes captured key elements of clinics that influenced reach, and how this collaboration with CBOs helped build trust with our target populations.
CONCLUSIONS: Providing low-barrier walk-up clinics partnering with trusted CBOs was observed to be helpful in reaching structurally vulnerable populations for COVID-19 testing
