Bailey Althea, Harris Michelle A, Bogle Dania, Jama Artan, Muir Susan A, Miller Shenae, Walters Christine A, Govia Ishtar
Department of Community Health & Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
PAHO/WHO Office for Jamaica, Bermuda, and The Cayman Islands, Kingston, Jamaica.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2021 Jul 12;17:e22. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2021.225.
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.
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.
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.
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.
本研究旨在识别牙买加发布的2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）风险沟通材料，以减轻疾病爆发的影响。它还旨在探讨在大流行背景下健康风险沟通对弱势群体的影响。
进行了一项定性研究，包括对健康风险沟通的内容分析，以及对35名有目的地挑选的老年人、身体残疾者、精神健康障碍患者、政府机构代表、宣传和服务团体以及弱势群体照顾者进行深入访谈。对访谈数据应用轴心编码，并使用持续比较技术对所有数据进行分析。
141条COVID-19风险沟通信息中有12条直接针对弱势群体。所有参与者都知晓相关风险沟通并基本遵守。信息知晓和遵守的障碍包括对聋人和盲人不适当的信息传播媒介、地处农村、缺乏互联网服务或数字设备、技术技能有限以及与服务弱势群体的机构联系有限。
弱势群体在危机时期面临的风险增加。无论地点和脆弱性如何，有针对性信息的可及性不足以让弱势群体普遍获取健康信息并获得支持。
