Abstract
The use of CBPR for addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Latinx and Black communities in Southern California
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Background: The current COVID-19 response is failing the needs of minority populations because it models what has been done for other health conditions – interventions have not been designed for or tested in racial and ethnic minorities. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) presents an opportunity to design health interventions through the collaboration of community members, representatives from community-based organizations (CBOs) and academic researchers. CBPR is rooted in equitable involvement of both researchers and community members to build trust and improve health outcomes by responding to the culture, history and needs of racial and ethnic minorities.
Methods: In May 2022, we formed an intervention working group comprised of representatives from community and academic organizations to address challenges in COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Latinx and Black communities in Southern California by using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. 2VIDA! is a multilevel intervention to address individual, social, and contextual factors related to access, acceptance, and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among Latinx and Black adults in San Diego.
Results: Utilizing the principles of CBPR, we have fostered sustainable community partnerships to reduce the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 in Latinx and Black communities in San Diego County. We have successfully collaborated with local groceries stores, CBOs, schools, and faith-based organizations to host pop up clinics to provide equitable access to the vaccine and other health services. Our notable partnerships serve predominantly Latinx and Black communities and include Northgate Gonzalez Market, Grocery Outlet, San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln High School, Encanto Church, Soul Swap Meet, and Southwestern College. Our mobile pop-up vaccination clinics are specifically designed to meet individuals where they live and integrate resources into trusted community spaces. Our impact is reflected not only by the number of health services we have provided to community members (1,617 vaccines, 1588 PPE kits, and linkage to 3,584 health services and/or resources) but in the reputable network we have built. Throughout the implementation of the project, we have seen a notable increase in requests from new CBOs and community members interested in collaborating with us, highlighting the trust and empowerment we are building in the community. *Analysis examining hesitancy by race/ethnicity and gender are forthcoming.
Importance: Our impact demonstrates that CBPR is an effective approach to guide the delivery of equitable health interventions, which will be critical in reducing COVID-19 health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.