Cáceres Nenette A, Shirazipour Celina H, Herrera Ergueen, Figueiredo Jane C, Salvy Sarah-Jeanne
SOCCI, Cancer Research Center for Health Equity, Cedars-Sinai, USA.
SSM Qual Res Health. 2022 Dec;2:100033. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2021.100033. Epub 2021 Dec 9.
Promotoras/promotores (i.e., community health workers) are uniquely positioned to provide much needed COVID-19 education and outreach in Latino communities, particularly in areas with disparities in vaccination rates. This study used qualitative methods to explore promotoras perspectives on COVID-19 vaccines, with a focus on understanding how vaccine knowledge and viewpoints among Latino communities can formulate recommendations to improve uptake of vaccination. Promotoras (N=22) were recruited to participate in semi-structured focus groups conducted virtually. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three overarching themes: (1) prevalence of misinformation (related to lack of trustworthy information, mistrust in the government, immigration status concerns, and conspiracy theories); (2) hesitancy (related to health concerns and eligibility confusion); and (3) recommendations for improving vaccine uptake. Delays in vaccination were not strictly due to doubts or fears but were also related to access barriers. The themes provide insight into the Latino communities' perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines and reasons why some remain unvaccinated. Promotoras' perspectives are integral to the development of strategies and approaches to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, uptake, and implementation among underserved communities.
健康促进者（即社区卫生工作者）在拉丁裔社区提供急需的新冠病毒教育和宣传方面具有独特优势，尤其是在疫苗接种率存在差异的地区。本研究采用定性方法，探讨健康促进者对新冠病毒疫苗的看法，重点是了解拉丁裔社区的疫苗知识和观点，以便制定提高疫苗接种率的建议。招募了22名健康促进者参加虚拟的半结构化焦点小组。反思性主题分析确定了三个总体主题：（1）错误信息的流行（与缺乏可靠信息、对政府的不信任、移民身份担忧和阴谋论有关）；（2）犹豫（与健康担忧和资格困惑有关）；（3）提高疫苗接种率的建议。疫苗接种延迟并非完全是由于怀疑或恐惧，还与获取障碍有关。这些主题有助于深入了解拉丁裔社区对新冠病毒疫苗的看法以及一些人仍未接种疫苗的原因。健康促进者的观点对于制定解决弱势群体中新冠病毒疫苗犹豫、接种和实施问题的策略和方法至关重要。
