Iris Z. Feinberg, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor and Associate Director, and Michelle M. Ogrodnick, MA, is a 2CI Fellow, Adult Literacy Research Center, Department of Learning Sciences College of Education and Human Development; Ashli Owen-Smith, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences, and Richard Rothenberg, MD, MPH, and Michael P. Eriksen, ScD, are Regents' Professors, School of Public Health; all at Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA. Mary Helen O'Connor, PhD, is an Associate Professor, Department of English, and Director, Center for Community Engagement, at Perimeter College, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
Health Secur. 2021 Jun;19(S1):S41-S49. doi: 10.1089/hs.2021.0048. Epub 2021 May 7.
Vulnerable refugee communities are disproportionately affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; existing longstanding health inequity in these communities is exacerbated by ineffective risk communication practices about COVID-19. Culturally and linguistically appropriate health communication following health literacy guidelines is needed to dispel cultural myths, social stigma, misinformation, and disinformation. For refugee communities, the physical, mental, and social-related consequences of displacement further complicate understanding of risk communication practices grounded in a Western cultural ethos. We present a case study of Clarkston, Georgia, the "most diverse square mile in America," where half the population is foreign born and majority refugee. Supporting marginalized communities in times of risk will require a multipronged, systemic approach to health communication including: (1) creating a task force of local leaders and community members to deal with emergent issues; (2) expanding English-language education and support for refugees; (3) including refugee perspectives on risk, health, and wellness into risk communication messaging; (4) improving cultural competence and health literacy training for community leaders and healthcare providers; and (5) supporting community health workers. Finally, better prepared public health programs, including partnerships with trusted community organizations and leadership, can ensure that appropriate and supportive risk communication and health education and promotion are in place long before the next emergency.
弱势难民群体受当前 COVID-19 大流行的影响不成比例；这些群体中长期存在的健康不平等现象因 COVID-19 风险沟通实践不力而加剧。需要遵循健康素养准则，进行文化和语言适宜的健康沟通，以消除文化误解、社会耻辱、错误信息和虚假信息。对于难民群体而言，流离失所带来的身体、心理和社会相关后果进一步使他们难以理解基于西方文化精神的风险沟通实践。我们提出了佐治亚州克拉克斯顿的案例研究，克拉克斯顿是“美国最多元化的一平方英里”，其一半人口是外国出生，多数是难民。在风险时期支持边缘化社区需要采取多管齐下的系统方法来进行健康沟通，包括：（1）成立一个由当地领导人和社区成员组成的工作队来处理紧急问题；（2）扩大针对难民的英语教育和支持；（3）将难民对风险、健康和健康的看法纳入风险沟通信息中；（4）提高社区领导人和医疗保健提供者的文化能力和健康素养培训；（5）支持社区卫生工作者。最后，准备更充分的公共卫生计划，包括与值得信赖的社区组织和领导层建立伙伴关系，可以确保在下一次紧急情况发生之前，就已经制定了适当和支持性的风险沟通、健康教育和促进措施。
