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Jepson M, Whittaker GA, Robins L, Long KM, Williams CM, Russell G, Hill KD, Callaway L, Hlavac J, Willoughby L, Haines TP. Australian public health COVID-19 messaging is missing its mark in some vulnerable communities and people who reject COVID-19 safety advice. J Glob Health 2022; 12:05037. [PMID: 36057910 PMCID: PMC9441129 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.05037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are groups in our community who may be more vulnerable to contracting, transmitting, or experiencing negative health impacts of COVID-19 than the general community. They may also have greater difficulty accessing, accepting, and acting upon COVID-19 public health information. Our aim was to understand if vulnerable communities and those who express "COVID-risk" behavioural intentions seek and respond differently to COVID-19 public health information. Methods This observational, cross-sectional study recruited adults aged over 18 years from the Australian general community and six community groups (people with disabilities and their caregivers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, aged care workers, street-based sex workers, refugees and asylum seekers, and the deaf and hard of hearing). We investigated attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19 public health messages. We identified factors associated with the respondent's perception of the ease of finding information and understanding it, and its relevance to them. We also examined latent classes that were developed based on attitudes to public health measures and vulnerable group categories, along with demographic variables. Results We received 1444 responses (n = 1121 general community; n ≥50 for each vulnerable group). The vulnerable groups examined found COVID-19 public health messages as easy, if not easier, to find and understand than the general community. Four latent classes were identified: COVID-safe mask wearers (10% of sample), COVID-safe test takers (56%), COVID-risk isolators (19%) and COVID-risk visitors (15%). The COVID-risk classes (34% of sample) were less likely to consider COVID-19 information easy to find, understandable, and relevant. Conclusions Additional public health messaging strategies may be needed for targeting people with "COVID-risk" beliefs and attitudes who appear across the community (general and vulnerable groups) rather than just targeting specific cultural or other groupings that we think may be vulnerable. COVID-risk classes identified through this study were not defined by demographic characteristics or cultural groupings, but were spread across vulnerable communities and the general community. Different approaches for tailoring and delivery of specific public health information for these groups are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Jepson
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Glen A Whittaker
- Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren Robins
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katrina M Long
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cylie M Williams
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.,Peninsula Health, Allied Health, Victoria, Australia
| | - Grant Russell
- Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Keith D Hill
- Rehabilitation Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Libby Callaway
- Rehabilitation Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.,Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria
| | - Jim Hlavac
- Translation and Interpreting Studies, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louisa Willoughby
- Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Terry P Haines
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
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