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Coping With COVID-19: Health Risk Communication and Vulnerable Groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2021

Althea Bailey Open the ORCID record for Althea Bailey [Opens in a new window] ,
Michelle A. Harris ,
Dania Bogle Open the ORCID record for Dania Bogle [Opens in a new window] ,
Artan Jama ,
Susan A. Muir ,
Shenae Miller ,
Christine A. Walters  and
Ishtar Govia
Althea Bailey*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health & Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
Michelle A. Harris
Affiliation:
PAHO/WHO Office for Jamaica, Bermuda, and The Cayman Islands, Kingston, Jamaica
Dania Bogle
Affiliation:
PAHO/WHO Office for Jamaica, Bermuda, and The Cayman Islands, Kingston, Jamaica
Artan Jama
Affiliation:
PAHO/WHO Office for Jamaica, Bermuda, and The Cayman Islands, Kingston, Jamaica
Susan A. Muir
Affiliation:
School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Technology, Kingston, Jamaica
Shenae Miller
Affiliation:
PAHO/WHO Office for Jamaica, Bermuda, and The Cayman Islands, Kingston, Jamaica
Christine A. Walters
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
Ishtar Govia
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Research Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
*
Corresponding author: Althea Bailey, Email: althea.bailey02@uwimona.edu.jm
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Abstract

Objectives:

This study sought to identify coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk communication materials distributed in Jamaica to mitigate the effects of the disease outbreak. It also sought to explore the effects of health risk communication on vulnerable groups in the context of the pandemic.

Methods:

A qualitative study was conducted, including a content analysis of health risk communications and in-depth interviews with 35 purposively selected elderly, physically disabled, persons with mental health disorders, representatives of government agencies, advocacy and service groups, and caregivers of the vulnerable. Axial coding was applied to data from the interviews, and all data were analyzed using the constant comparison technique.

Results:

Twelve of the 141 COVID-19 risk communication messages directly targeted the vulnerable. All participants were aware of the relevant risk communication and largely complied. Barriers to messaging awareness and compliance included inappropriate message medium for the deaf and blind, rural location, lack of Internet service or digital devices, limited technology skills, and limited connection to agencies that serve the vulnerable.

Conclusion:

The vulnerable are at increased risk in times of crisis. Accessibility of targeted information was inadequate for universal access to health information and support for vulnerable persons regardless of location and vulnerability.

Keywords

COVID-19vulnerablerisk communicationaccessequity
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e22
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021

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