How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.

In Ontario, collaborations between Public Health Units (PHUs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) and other community organizations were implemented to deliver interventions aimed at building trust in vaccines among ethnoracial communities. This research sought to explore the processes of PHU engag...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kadidiatou Kadio, Melodie Yunju Song, Anna Karbasi, Denessia Blake-Hepburn, Shaza A Fadel, Sara Allin, Anushka Ataullahjan, Erica Di Ruggiero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003924
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841555218163040256
author Kadidiatou Kadio
Melodie Yunju Song
Anna Karbasi
Denessia Blake-Hepburn
Shaza A Fadel
Sara Allin
Anushka Ataullahjan
Erica Di Ruggiero
author_facet Kadidiatou Kadio
Melodie Yunju Song
Anna Karbasi
Denessia Blake-Hepburn
Shaza A Fadel
Sara Allin
Anushka Ataullahjan
Erica Di Ruggiero
author_sort Kadidiatou Kadio
collection DOAJ
description In Ontario, collaborations between Public Health Units (PHUs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) and other community organizations were implemented to deliver interventions aimed at building trust in vaccines among ethnoracial communities. This research sought to explore the processes of PHU engagement with FBOs, and challenges encountered. A qualitative research study based on in-depth interviews was conducted with 18 of the 34 Ontario PHUs who expressed an interest. Braun and Clarke's "experiential" approach was used to explore the realities of PHUs' contextual experiences and perspectives. PHUs developed a two-phased process for engaging with FBOs and ethnoracial communities. First, PHUs created internal frameworks for dialogue to use available data to better understand the diverse needs of these equity-seeking groups. The second phase involved a three-stage engagement process:1) Consultation and information sharing was employed to facilitate early and open dialogue. 2) Work with FBOs and interested communities to plan vaccine deployment strategies to meet the needs of different faith and ethno-racial groups, and jointly plan the implementation of vaccination clinics. 3) Share roles and responsibilities with FBOs to roll out vaccine confidence strategies. The PHUs' openness to honest dialogue with FBOs, commitment to building relationships based on respect for different beliefs and opinions about vaccines, and previous experience working together all facilitated engagement. Lessons learned from this research can guide the implementation of future vaccination programs. Ensuring early and regular engagement with FBOs a priority strategy and devoting substantial resources (human, financial and duration) are both necessary to improve vaccine confidence and promote equity for ethno-racial groups.
format Article
id doaj-art-198947713ab744ecbf63388cce887a8d
institution Kabale University
issn 2767-3375
language English
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLOS Global Public Health
spelling doaj-art-198947713ab744ecbf63388cce887a8d2025-01-08T05:51:33ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752024-01-01412e000392410.1371/journal.pgph.0003924How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.Kadidiatou KadioMelodie Yunju SongAnna KarbasiDenessia Blake-HepburnShaza A FadelSara AllinAnushka AtaullahjanErica Di RuggieroIn Ontario, collaborations between Public Health Units (PHUs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) and other community organizations were implemented to deliver interventions aimed at building trust in vaccines among ethnoracial communities. This research sought to explore the processes of PHU engagement with FBOs, and challenges encountered. A qualitative research study based on in-depth interviews was conducted with 18 of the 34 Ontario PHUs who expressed an interest. Braun and Clarke's "experiential" approach was used to explore the realities of PHUs' contextual experiences and perspectives. PHUs developed a two-phased process for engaging with FBOs and ethnoracial communities. First, PHUs created internal frameworks for dialogue to use available data to better understand the diverse needs of these equity-seeking groups. The second phase involved a three-stage engagement process:1) Consultation and information sharing was employed to facilitate early and open dialogue. 2) Work with FBOs and interested communities to plan vaccine deployment strategies to meet the needs of different faith and ethno-racial groups, and jointly plan the implementation of vaccination clinics. 3) Share roles and responsibilities with FBOs to roll out vaccine confidence strategies. The PHUs' openness to honest dialogue with FBOs, commitment to building relationships based on respect for different beliefs and opinions about vaccines, and previous experience working together all facilitated engagement. Lessons learned from this research can guide the implementation of future vaccination programs. Ensuring early and regular engagement with FBOs a priority strategy and devoting substantial resources (human, financial and duration) are both necessary to improve vaccine confidence and promote equity for ethno-racial groups.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003924
spellingShingle Kadidiatou Kadio
Melodie Yunju Song
Anna Karbasi
Denessia Blake-Hepburn
Shaza A Fadel
Sara Allin
Anushka Ataullahjan
Erica Di Ruggiero
How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.
PLOS Global Public Health
title How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.
title_full How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.
title_fullStr How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.
title_full_unstemmed How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.
title_short How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.
title_sort how have ontario public health units engaged with faith based organizations to build confidence in covid 19 vaccines among ethno racial communities
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003924
work_keys_str_mv AT kadidiatoukadio howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities
AT melodieyunjusong howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities
AT annakarbasi howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities
AT denessiablakehepburn howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities
AT shazaafadel howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities
AT saraallin howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities
AT anushkaataullahjan howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities
AT ericadiruggiero howhaveontariopublichealthunitsengagedwithfaithbasedorganizationstobuildconfidenceincovid19vaccinesamongethnoracialcommunities