Ignacio Matt, Oesterle Sabrina, Rodriguez-González Natalia, Lopez Gilberto, Ayers Stephanie, Carver Ann, Wolfersteig Wendy, Williams James Herbert, Sabo Samantha, Parthasarathy Sairam
Southwest Interdiciplinary Research Center, School of Social Work, Arizona State University, 411 N Central Ave #800, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
School of Transborder Studies, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2024 Aug 1. doi: 10.1007/s40615-024-02109-7.
Communities of color might disproportionately experience long-term consequences of COVID-19, known as Long COVID. We sought to understand the awareness of and experiences with Long COVID among African American/Black (AA/B), Hispanic/Latino (H/L), and Indigenous (Native) adults (18 + years of age) in Arizona who previously tested positive for COVID-19.
Between December 2022 and April 2023, the Arizona Community Engagement Alliance (AZCEAL) conducted 12 focus groups and surveys with 65 AA/B, H/L and Native community members. Data from focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify emerging issues. Survey data provided demographic information about participants and quantitative assessments of Long COVID experiences were used to augment focus group data.
Study participants across all three racial/ethnic groups had limited to no awareness of the term Long COVID, yet many described experiencing or witnessing friends and family endure physical symptoms consistent with Long COVID (e.g., brain fog, loss of memory, fatigue) as well as associated mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, worry, post-traumatic stress disorder). Participants identified a need for Long COVID mental health and other health resources, as well as increased access to Long COVID information.
To prevent Long COVID health inequities among AA/B, H/L, and Native adults living in AZ, health-related organizations and providers should increase access to culturally relevant, community-based Long COVID-specific information, mental health services, and other health resources aimed at serving these populations.
有色人种社区可能不成比例地经历新冠病毒病的长期后果，即所谓的“长新冠”。我们试图了解亚利桑那州曾新冠病毒检测呈阳性的非裔美国人/黑人（AA/B）、西班牙裔/拉丁裔（H/L）和原住民成年人（18岁及以上）对“长新冠”的认知以及相关经历。
2022年12月至2023年4月期间，亚利桑那州社区参与联盟（AZCEAL）对65名非裔美国人/黑人、西班牙裔/拉丁裔和原住民社区成员进行了12次焦点小组讨论和调查。焦点小组的数据采用主题分析进行分析，以确定新出现的问题。调查数据提供了参与者的人口统计学信息，对“长新冠”经历的定量评估用于补充焦点小组数据。
所有三个种族/族裔群体的研究参与者对“长新冠”一词的了解有限或一无所知，但许多人描述自己经历过或目睹朋友和家人忍受与“长新冠”相符的身体症状（如脑雾、记忆力减退、疲劳）以及相关的心理健康问题（如焦虑、担忧、创伤后应激障碍）。参与者指出需要“长新冠”心理健康和其他健康资源，以及更多获取“长新冠”信息的途径。
为防止生活在亚利桑那州的非裔美国人/黑人、西班牙裔/拉丁裔和原住民成年人出现“长新冠”健康不平等现象，与健康相关的组织和提供者应增加提供与文化相关的、基于社区的针对“长新冠”的特定信息、心理健康服务和旨在服务这些人群的其他健康资源。
