An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los Angeles

Objectives: To investigate the experiences and perceptions of COVID-19 contact-tracing efforts among cases tested in under-resourced and predominately Latino and Black communities of South Los Angeles, California. Methods: Study involved a cross-sectional survey with 1,713 adults. Recruitment occurr...

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Main Authors: Sharon Cobb, Katrina Schrode, Hafifa Siddiq, Shanika Boyce, Kelly D. Taylor, Roberto Vargas, Nina Harawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2024-12-01
Series:Health Equity
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/heq.2023.0243
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author Sharon Cobb
Katrina Schrode
Hafifa Siddiq
Shanika Boyce
Kelly D. Taylor
Roberto Vargas
Nina Harawa
author_facet Sharon Cobb
Katrina Schrode
Hafifa Siddiq
Shanika Boyce
Kelly D. Taylor
Roberto Vargas
Nina Harawa
author_sort Sharon Cobb
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: To investigate the experiences and perceptions of COVID-19 contact-tracing efforts among cases tested in under-resourced and predominately Latino and Black communities of South Los Angeles, California. Methods: Study involved a cross-sectional survey with 1,713 adults. Recruitment occurred between June and November 2021 with eligible individuals who had previously received a COVID-19 diagnosis through designated testing sites. The LA County Department of Public Health operated a culturally responsive program for contact tracing that included provision of education and service referrals to newly diagnosed cases through much of the pandemic. Results: Participants were majority female (63%), Hispanic/Latino/a/x (64%), ages 18–40 (69%), and surveyed in English (77%). Overall contact-tracing experiences were rated positively, regardless of demographics (average means of 3.1–3.2/4.0). Those surveyed in Spanish were more likely to endorse positive statements if their contact tracer also spoke Spanish. Although over 75% of participants shared a range of the different information types requested, 49–52% endorsed concerns about data security and uses of the solicited information. Conclusions: Despite eliciting some concerns, contact-tracing efforts were generally positively received. Policy implications: Investments in contact tracing in similar communities should consider language-concordant contact tracers, community-based health worker training in trust building, and addressing social and health needs.
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spelling doaj-art-e584e8217fb54202ad361a416d93df1c2025-08-20T03:49:37ZengMary Ann LiebertHealth Equity2473-12422024-12-018149350410.1089/heq.2023.0243An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los AngelesSharon Cobb0Katrina Schrode1Hafifa Siddiq2Shanika Boyce3Kelly D. Taylor4Roberto Vargas5Nina Harawa6College of Nursing, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.College of Nursing, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.Objectives: To investigate the experiences and perceptions of COVID-19 contact-tracing efforts among cases tested in under-resourced and predominately Latino and Black communities of South Los Angeles, California. Methods: Study involved a cross-sectional survey with 1,713 adults. Recruitment occurred between June and November 2021 with eligible individuals who had previously received a COVID-19 diagnosis through designated testing sites. The LA County Department of Public Health operated a culturally responsive program for contact tracing that included provision of education and service referrals to newly diagnosed cases through much of the pandemic. Results: Participants were majority female (63%), Hispanic/Latino/a/x (64%), ages 18–40 (69%), and surveyed in English (77%). Overall contact-tracing experiences were rated positively, regardless of demographics (average means of 3.1–3.2/4.0). Those surveyed in Spanish were more likely to endorse positive statements if their contact tracer also spoke Spanish. Although over 75% of participants shared a range of the different information types requested, 49–52% endorsed concerns about data security and uses of the solicited information. Conclusions: Despite eliciting some concerns, contact-tracing efforts were generally positively received. Policy implications: Investments in contact tracing in similar communities should consider language-concordant contact tracers, community-based health worker training in trust building, and addressing social and health needs.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/heq.2023.0243COVID-19contact tracingHispanic or Latinopublic healthBlack or African Americancommunicable diseases
spellingShingle Sharon Cobb
Katrina Schrode
Hafifa Siddiq
Shanika Boyce
Kelly D. Taylor
Roberto Vargas
Nina Harawa
An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los Angeles
Health Equity
COVID-19
contact tracing
Hispanic or Latino
public health
Black or African American
communicable diseases
title An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los Angeles
title_full An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los Angeles
title_fullStr An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los Angeles
title_full_unstemmed An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los Angeles
title_short An Examination of Responses to COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Efforts in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Communities of Los Angeles
title_sort examination of responses to covid 19 contact tracing efforts in black african american and hispanic latinx communities of los angeles
topic COVID-19
contact tracing
Hispanic or Latino
public health
Black or African American
communicable diseases
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/heq.2023.0243
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