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Cueva K, Peterson M, Chaliak AJ, Young RI. A qualitative exploration of the impacts of COVID-19 in two rural Southwestern Alaska communities. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2313823. [PMID: 38563298 PMCID: PMC10989197 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2313823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
This manuscript presents a qualitative exploration of the experiences of people in two Southwestern Alaska communities during the emergence of COVID-19 and subsequent pandemic response. The project used principles of community based participatory research and honoured Indigenous ways of knowing throughout the study design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Data was collected in 2022 through group and individual conversations with community members, exploring impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included Elders, community health workers, Tribal council members, government employees, school personnel, and emergency response personnel. Notes and written responses were coded using thematic qualitative analysis. The most frequently identified themes were 1) feeling disconnected from family, friends, and other relationships, 2) death, 3) the Tribal councils did a good job, and 4) loss of celebrations and ceremonies. While the findings highlighted grief and a loss of social cohesion due to the pandemic, they also included indicators of resilience and thriving, such as appropriate and responsive local governance, revitalisation of traditional medicines, and coming together as a community to survive. This case study was conducted as part of an international collaboration to identify community-driven, evidence-based recommendations to inform pan-Arctic collaboration and decision making in public health during global emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Cueva
- Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Malory Peterson
- Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
| | - Ay’aqulluk Jim Chaliak
- Center for Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR), University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bethel, AK, USA
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Harmon OA, Howe TS, Schaeffer JD, Adeboyejo R, Eichelberger LP. Impact of In-Home Handwashing Stations on Hand Hygiene During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Unpiped Rural Alaska Native Homes. Public Health Rep 2024; 139:81S-88S. [PMID: 38801159 DOI: 10.1177/00333549241255260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES More than 3300 rural Alaska Native homes lack piped water, impeding hand hygiene. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered with 10 Tribal communities and regional Tribal health organizations to install a low-cost, intermediate-technology water and sanitation system, the Miniature Portable Alternative Sanitation System (Mini-PASS). We assessed the impact of the Mini-PASS handwashing station on handwashing, other water-related uses, and problems encountered over time. METHODS In this pre-postintervention study, we conducted semi-structured interviews by telephone seasonally with representatives of 71 households with the Mini-PASS from February 2021 through November 2022 to assess the impact of the units on water use and health. RESULTS Before Mini-PASS installation, all participating households primarily used washbasins for handwashing. Postintervention, more than 70% of households reported using the Mini-PASS as their primary handwashing method in all 3 follow-up intervals (3, 6-9, and 12 months postintervention). The proportion of households using the handwashing station for other household tasks increased during 12 months, from 51.4% (19 of 37) at 3 months postintervention to 77.8% (21 of 27) at 12 months postintervention. Although approximately 20% to 40% of households reported problems with their handwashing station during the 12 months postintervention, a large proportion of interviewees (47% to 60%) said they were able to conduct repairs themselves. CONCLUSIONS Households in rural Alaska quickly adopted the Mini-PASS for hand hygiene and other needs and were largely able to troubleshoot problems themselves. Further research evaluating the impact of improved handwashing behaviors facilitated by the Mini-PASS should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia A Harmon
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USA
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Tricia S Howe
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USA
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Park SY, Faraci G, Ward P, Lee HY. Utilizing cost-effective portable equipment to enhance COVID-19 variant tracking both on-site and at a large scale. J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0155823. [PMID: 38415638 PMCID: PMC11005371 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01558-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite optimistic predictions on the eventual end of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), caution is necessary regarding the emergence of new variants to sustain a positive outlook and effectively address any potential future outbreaks. However, ongoing efforts to track COVID-19 variants are concentrated in developed countries and unique social practices and remote habitats of indigenous peoples present additional challenges. By combining small-sized equipment that is easily accessible and inexpensive, we performed SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) whole genome sequencing and measured the sample-to-answer time and accuracy of this portable variant tracking tool. Our portable design determined the variant of SARS-CoV-2 in an infected individual within 9 hours and 15 minutes without external power or internet connection, surpassing the speed of previous portable tools. It took only 16 minutes to complete sequencing run, whole genome assembly, and lineage determination using a single standalone laptop. We then demonstrated the capability to produce 289 SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences in a single portable sequencing run, representing a significant improvement over an existing throughput of 96 sequences per run. We verified the accuracy of portable sequencing by comparison with two other independent sequencing methods. We showed that our high-throughput data consistently represented the circulating variants in Los Angeles, United States, when compared with publicly available sequences. Our scheme is designed to be flexible, rapid, and accurate, making it a valuable tool for large-scale surveillance operations in low- and middle-income countries as well as targeted surveys for vulnerable populations in remote locations.IMPORTANCEThere have been significant efforts to track COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) variants, accumulating over 15 million SARS-CoV-2 sequences as of 2023. However, the distribution of global survey data is highly skewed, with nearly half of all countries having inadequate or low levels of genomic surveillance. In addition, indigenous peoples face more severe threats from COVID-19, due to their generally remote residence and unique social practices. Cost-effective portable sequencing tools have been used to investigate Ebola and Zika outbreaks. However, these tools have a sample-to-answer time of around 24 hours and require an internet connection for data transfer to an off-site cloud server. In our study, we rapidly determined COVID-19 variants using only small and inexpensive equipment, with a completion time of 9 hours and 15 minutes. Furthermore, we produced 289 near-full-length SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from a single portable Nanopore sequencing run, representing a threefold increase in throughput compared with existing Nanopore sequencing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Yong Park
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Gina Faraci
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pamela Ward
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ha Youn Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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4
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Collier AF, Schaefer KR, Uddin A, Noonan C, Dillard DA, Son-Stone L, Manson SM, Buchwald D, MacLehose R. COVID-19 vaccination in urban American Indian and Alaska Native children: Parental characteristics, beliefs and attitudes associated with vaccine acceptance. Vaccine X 2023; 15:100406. [PMID: 38058791 PMCID: PMC10696120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about vaccination rates for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) parents and their children, or parental decisions in this regard. Improving vaccination rates is a serious concern due to the disproportionate incidence and morbidity of COVID-19 in AI/AN people. Purpose Our goal was to describe urban AI/AN parental attributes associated with COVID-19 vaccination of their children. Methods Survey participants (n = 572) were ≥18 years of age, had children ≥5 years of age, AI/AN, and seen at one of six urban health organizations serving primarily AI/AN people within the prior year. They were asked about gender, age, education, marital status, perceived stress, trauma history, whether they had received the COVID-19 vaccine, tested positive for COVID-19 in the past, and if their child was vaccinated. They were also asked about 16 vaccine hesitancy reasons. Results Parental vaccination rate was 82%, with 59% of their children vaccinated. Parents who vaccinated their children were older, had higher education, lower stress and trauma, and were more likely to be vaccinated compared to parents who did not vaccinate their children. Forty-two percent of parents indicated they would likely vaccinate their unvaccinated child in the future. Sixteen vaccine hesitancy reasons revealed four factors: distrust, inconvenience, lack of concern about the pandemic, and AI/AN concerns. Parents who had no plans to vaccinate their children had the highest vaccine distrust and lack of concern about the pandemic. Parents with greater vaccine distrust and AI/AN specific concern reported significantly greater trauma history and higher levels of education. Conclusion Even though vaccination rates for AI/AN parents and children are high, the consequences of COVID-19 for AI/AN people are more severe than for other US populations. Providers should use trauma-informed, trust-building and culturally competent communication when discussing choices about vaccination with AI/AN parents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Azhar Uddin
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
| | - Carolyn Noonan
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
| | | | - Linda Son-Stone
- First Nations Community Healthsource, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Spero M. Manson
- Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, United States
| | - Dedra Buchwald
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
| | - Richard MacLehose
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, United States
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Peterson M, Akearok GH, Cueva K, Lavoie JG, Larsen CVL, Jóhannsdóttir L, Cook D, Nilsson LM, Rautio A, Timlin U, San Sebastián M, Gladun E, Rink E, Broderstadt AR, Dagsvold I, Siri S, Ottendahl CB, Olesen I, Zatseva L, Young RI, Chaliak AJ, Ophus E, Stoor JPA. Public health restrictions, directives, and measures in Arctic countries in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Circumpolar Health 2023; 82:2271211. [PMID: 37898999 PMCID: PMC10997298 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2023.2271211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Beginning January of 2020, COVID-19 cases detected in Arctic countries triggered government policy responses to stop transmission and limit caseloads beneath levels that would overwhelm existing healthcare systems. This review details the various restrictions, health mandates, and transmission mitigation strategies imposed by governments in eight Arctic countries (the United States, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Russia) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, through 31 January 2021s31 January 2021. We highlight formal protocols and informal initiatives adopted by local communities in each country, beyond what was mandated by regional or national governments. This review documents travel restrictions, communications, testing strategies, and use of health technology to track and monitor COVID-19 cases. We provide geographical and sociocultural background and draw on local media and communications to contextualise the impact of COVID-19 emergence and prevention measures in Indigenous communities in the Arctic. Countries saw varied case rates associated with local protocols, governance, and population. Still, almost all regions maintained low COVID-19 case rates until November of 2020. This review was produced as part of an international collaboration to identify community-driven, evidence-based promising practices and recommendations to inform pan-Arctic collaboration and decision making in public health during global emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malory Peterson
- Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Helena, USA
| | | | - Katie Cueva
- Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Josée G. Lavoie
- Ongomiizwin Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Christina VL Larsen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Lára Jóhannsdóttir
- Environment and Natural Resources Programme, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - David Cook
- Environment and Natural Resources Programme, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Lena Maria Nilsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Arja Rautio
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ulla Timlin
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Miguel San Sebastián
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elena Gladun
- Institute of State and Law, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Elizabeth Rink
- Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Helena, USA
| | - Ann Ragnhild Broderstadt
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Inger Dagsvold
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Susanna Siri
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Ingelise Olesen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Larisa Zatseva
- Institute of State and Law, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia
| | | | | | - Emily Ophus
- Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, Nunavut, Canada
| | - Jon Petter A. Stoor
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Chen X, Winterowd C, Li M, Kreps GL. Identifying Mental Health Literacy as a Key Predictor of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance among American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American People. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1793. [PMID: 38140196 PMCID: PMC10748283 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examines how health literacy and mental health literacy associate with the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccination among American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American (AI/AN) people. METHODS The data were collected with an online Qualtrics survey in February 2021 (n = 563). A purposive snowball sampling strategy was used by sending recruitment flyers to colleagues and organizations who work with AI/AN communities to share with appropriate potential respondents. We performed linear regression analyses examining the relationships between the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, education, health literacy, mental health literacy, self-rated physical and mental health status, worry about getting COVID-19, perceived COVID-19 susceptibility, and perceived COVID-19 severity. RESULTS Mental health literacy and health literacy predicted 30.90% and 4.65% of the variance (R2adjusted) in the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. After holding the self-rated physical/mental health status, worry about getting COVID-19, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, health literacy, and socio-demographics constant, mental health literacy was still a strong predictor (b = 0.03, p < 0.001) for the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (model R2adjusted = 40.14%). CONCLUSIONS We identified mental health literacy as a substantial factor associated with the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccination among AI/AN respondents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Chen
- School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
| | - Carrie Winterowd
- School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA;
| | - Gary L. Kreps
- Center for Health and Risk Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
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Slutske WS, Conner KL, Kirsch JA, Smith SS, Piasecki TM, Johnson AL, McCarthy DE, Nez Henderson P, Fiore MC. Explaining COVID-19 related mortality disparities in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20974. [PMID: 38017023 PMCID: PMC10684501 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48260-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals are more likely to die with COVID-19 than other groups, but there is limited empirical evidence to explain the cause of this inequity. The objective of this study was to determine whether medical comorbidities, area socioeconomic deprivation, or access to treatment can explain the greater COVID-19 related mortality among AI/AN individuals. The design was a retrospective cohort study of harmonized electronic health record data of all inpatients with COVID-19 from 21 United States health systems from February 2020 through January 2022. The mortality of AI/AN inpatients was compared to all Non-Hispanic White (NHW) inpatients and to a matched subsample of NHW inpatients. AI/AN inpatients were more likely to die during their hospitalization (13.2% versus 7.1%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.48, 2.65) than their matched NHW counterparts. After adjusting for comorbidities, area social deprivation, and access to treatment, the association between ethnicity and mortality was substantially reduced (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15, 2.22). The significant residual relation between AI/AN versus NHW status and mortality indicate that there are other important unmeasured factors that contribute to this inequity. This will be an important direction for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy S Slutske
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Karen L Conner
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Julie A Kirsch
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Stevens S Smith
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Thomas M Piasecki
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Adrienne L Johnson
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Danielle E McCarthy
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Michael C Fiore
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Ko JY, Pham H, Anglin O, Chai SJ, Alden NB, Meek J, Anderson EJ, Weigel A, Kohrman A, Lynfield R, Rudin D, Barney G, Bennett NM, Billing LM, Sutton M, Talbot HK, Swain A, Havers FP, Taylor CA. Vaccination Status and Trends in Adult Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Hospitalizations by Race and Ethnicity: March 2020-August 2022. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:827-838. [PMID: 37132204 PMCID: PMC11019819 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to determine whether race/ethnicity disparities in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes persist in the era of vaccination. METHODS Population-based age-adjusted monthly rate ratios (RRs) of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-associated hospitalizations were calculated among adult patients from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network, March 2020 - August 2022 by race/ethnicity. Among randomly sampled patients July 2021 - August 2022, RRs for hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality were calculated for Hispanic, Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN), and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) persons vs White persons. RESULTS Based on data from 353 807 patients, hospitalization rates were higher among Hispanic, Black, and AI/AN vs White persons March 2020 - August 2022, yet the magnitude declined over time (for Hispanic persons, RR = 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5-7.1 in June 2020 vs RR < 2.0 after July 2021; for AI/AN persons, RR = 8.4; 95% CI, 8.2-8.7 in May 2020 vs RR < 2.0 after March 2022; and for Black persons RR = 5.3; 95% CI, 4.6-4.9 in July 2020 vs RR < 2.0 after February 2022; all P ≤ .001). Among 8706 sampled patients July 2021 - August 2022, hospitalization and ICU admission RRs were higher for Hispanic, Black, and AI/AN patients (range for both, 1.4-2.4) and lower for API (range for both, 0.6-0.9) vs White patients. All other race and ethnicity groups had higher in-hospital mortality rates vs White persons (RR range, 1.4-2.9). CONCLUSIONS Race/ethnicity disparities in COVID-19-associated hospitalizations declined but persist in the era of vaccination. Developing strategies to ensure equitable access to vaccination and treatment remains important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Y Ko
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Huong Pham
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Onika Anglin
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Shua J Chai
- California Emerging Infections Program, Oakland, California, USA
- Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nisha B Alden
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - James Meek
- Connecticut Emerging Infections Program, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Evan J Anderson
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Emerging Infections Program, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Andy Weigel
- Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Alexander Kohrman
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Ruth Lynfield
- Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Dominic Rudin
- New Mexico Emerging Infections Program, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Grant Barney
- New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Nancy M Bennett
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | | | - Melissa Sutton
- Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - H Keipp Talbot
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ashley Swain
- Salt Lake County Health Department, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Fiona P Havers
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher A Taylor
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Tiwari S, Petrov A, Mateshvili N, Devlin M, Golosov N, Rozanova-Smith M, Welford M, DeGroote J, Degai T, Ksenofontov S. Incorporating resilience when assessing pandemic risk in the Arctic: a case study of Alaska. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2022-011646. [PMID: 37286235 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The discourse on vulnerability to COVID-19 or any other pandemic is about the susceptibility to the effects of disease outbreaks. Over time, vulnerability has been assessed through various indices calculated using a confluence of societal factors. However, categorising Arctic communities, without considering their socioeconomic, cultural and demographic uniqueness, into the high and low continuum of vulnerability using universal indicators will undoubtedly result in the underestimation of the communities' capacity to withstand and recover from pandemic exposure. By recognising vulnerability and resilience as two separate but interrelated dimensions, this study reviews the Arctic communities' ability to cope with pandemic risks. In particular, we have developed a pandemic vulnerability-resilience framework for Alaska to examine the potential community-level risks of COVID-19 or future pandemics. Based on the combined assessment of the vulnerability and resilience indices, we found that not all highly vulnerable census areas and boroughs had experienced COVID-19 epidemiological outcomes with similar severity. The more resilient a census area or borough is, the lower the cumulative death per 100 000 and case fatality ratio in that area. The insight that pandemic risks are the result of the interaction between vulnerability and resilience could help public officials and concerned parties to accurately identify the populations and communities at most risk or with the greatest need, which, in turn, helps in the efficient allocation of resources and services before, during and after a pandemic. A resilience-vulnerability-focused approach described in this paper can be applied to assess the potential effect of COVID-19 and similar future health crises in remote regions or regions with large Indigenous populations in other parts of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweta Tiwari
- ARCTICenter, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Andrey Petrov
- ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
- Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Nino Mateshvili
- ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Michele Devlin
- Center for Strategic Leadership, United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nikolay Golosov
- Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marya Rozanova-Smith
- Department of Geography, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Mark Welford
- Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - John DeGroote
- Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Tatiana Degai
- Anthropology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Powell JE, Orttung RW, Topkok SA, Akselrod H, Little J, Wilcox P. Juneau, Alaska’s Successful Response to COVID-19: A Case Study of
Adaptive Leadership in a Complex System. STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW 2023; 55:41-61. [PMCID: PMC9806194 DOI: 10.1177/0160323x221136504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Juneau, Alaska, kept COVID-19 deaths lower than in other similar jurisdictions. We argue that adaptive leadership—the early decisions and actions of Juneau’s leaders, effective communications, and emergent new collaborative structures—in the context of municipal ownership of key assets enabled Juneau’s success. The result of 61 interviews and follow-up research, this case study contributes a better understanding of which institutional design, communication, and collaborative factors mattered in responding to the pandemic. Adaptive leadership provides a better explanation for Juneau’s success than alternatives that focus on its isolation, home-rule status, and socio-economic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E. Powell
- Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center,
University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK, USA
- International Arctic Reseach Center,
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Robert W. Orttung
- Elliott School of International
Affairs, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sean Asikłuk Topkok
- Center for Cross-Cultural Studies,
Indigenous Studies Graduate Programs, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK,
USA
| | - Hana Akselrod
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School
of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC,
USA
| | - Joseph Little
- W. A. Franke College of Business,
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA
| | - Peggy Wilcox
- Pardee RAND Graduate School, Santa
Monica, CA, USA
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11
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Cueva K, Schmidt J. Cancer Education for High School Students in the Northwest Arctic Increases Knowledge and Inspires Intent to Share Information and Reduce Cancer Risk. JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER EDUCATION 2023:1-9. [PMID: 36840838 PMCID: PMC9959931 DOI: 10.1007/s13187-023-02269-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Culturally appropriate cancer education is an opportunity to reduce health inequities in cancer. This manuscript describes the outcomes of piloting cancer education for youth in the Northwest Arctic region of Alaska. The project began due to community concerns, was focused through sharing circles conducted in the region, and was guided by a community advisory board. The project was based on the principles of Community Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR), honored Indigenous Ways of Knowing, and was grounded in Empowerment Theory. In response to community requests, eleven cancer education lessons were developed for young people in the Northwest Arctic. Several lessons were piloted in spring 2022. Each participant was invited to complete a pre-lesson and a post-lesson survey. A total of 113 surveys were completed from five different lessons: 66 pre-lesson surveys and 47 post-lesson surveys. Respondents' mean cancer knowledge scores were significantly higher after the Cancer Basics lesson. On 98% of post-lesson surveys, respondents said they planned to share cancer education messages such as staying tobacco-free and increasing physical activity with others, including their family, friends, and community members. On 93% of the post-lesson surveys, respondents indicated they planned to make changes to reduce their own personal cancer risk, including by staying tobacco-free, eating healthier, and increasing physical activity. "Cancer is serious, and something we should start talking about".
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Cueva
- Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA.
| | - Jennifer Schmidt
- Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
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12
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Bajema KL, Rowneki M, Berry K, Bohnert A, Bowling CB, Boyko EJ, Iwashyna TJ, Maciejewski ML, O’Hare AM, Osborne TF, Viglianti EM, Hynes DM, Ioannou GN. Rates of and Factors Associated With Primary and Booster COVID-19 Vaccine Receipt by US Veterans, December 2020 to June 2022. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2254387. [PMID: 36729454 PMCID: PMC9896301 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.54387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance COVID-19 vaccination rates remain suboptimal in the US. Identifying factors associated with vaccination can highlight existing gaps and guide targeted interventions to improve vaccination access and uptake. Objective To describe incidence and patient characteristics associated with primary, first booster, and second booster COVID-19 vaccination in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study assessed US veterans receiving care in VHA medical centers and outpatient clinics as of December 1, 2020. All VHA enrollees with an inpatient, outpatient, or telehealth encounter in VHA as well as a primary care physician appointment in the preceding 24 months were included. Exposures Demographic characteristics, place of residence, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and underlying medical conditions. Main Outcomes and Measures Cumulative incidence of primary, first booster, and second booster COVID-19 vaccination through June 2022. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify factors independently associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Results Among 5 632 413 veterans included in the study, 5 094 392 (90.4%) were male, the median (IQR) age was 66 (51-74) years, 1 032 334 (18.3%) were Black, 448 714 (8.0%) were Hispanic, and 4 202 173 (74.6%) were White. Through June 2022, cumulative incidences were 69.0% for primary vaccination, 42.9% for first booster, and 9.3% for second booster. Cumulative incidence for primary vaccination increased with increasing age, from 46.9% (95% CI, 46.8%-47.0%) among veterans aged 18 to 49 years to 82.9% (95% CI, 82.8%-83.0%) among veterans aged 80 to 84 years. More Black veterans completed primary vaccination (71.7%; 95% CI, 71.6%-71.8%) compared with White veterans (68.9%; 95% CI, 68.9%-69.0%), and more urban-dwelling veterans completed primary vaccination (70.9%; 95% CI, 70.9%-71.0%) compared with highly rural-dwelling veterans (63.8%; 95% CI, 63.4%-64.1%). Factors independently associated with higher likelihood of both primary and booster vaccination included older age, female sex, Asian or Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, urban residence, and lack of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of US veterans, COVID-19 vaccination coverage through June 2022 was suboptimal. Primary vaccination can be improved among younger, rural-dwelling veterans. Greater uptake of booster vaccination among all veterans is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina L. Bajema
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland
| | - Mazhgan Rowneki
- Center of Innovation to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - Kristin Berry
- Center of Innovation for Veteran Centered Value Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Amy Bohnert
- Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Health Care System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - C. Barrett Bowling
- Durham Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Edward J. Boyko
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare Seattle, Washington
| | - Theodore J. Iwashyna
- Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Matthew L. Maciejewski
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Ann M. O’Hare
- Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare Seattle, Washington
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Thomas F. Osborne
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Elizabeth M. Viglianti
- Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Denise M. Hynes
- Center of Innovation to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
- Health Management and Policy, School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Health Data and Informatics Program, Center for Quantitative Life Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis
| | - George N. Ioannou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle
- Research and Development, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
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Tiwari S, Petrov AN, Devlin M, Welford M, Golosov N, DeGroote J, Degai T, Ksenofontov S. The second year of pandemic in the Arctic: examining spatiotemporal dynamics of the COVID-19 "Delta wave" in Arctic regions in 2021. Int J Circumpolar Health 2022; 81:2109562. [PMID: 35976076 PMCID: PMC9387323 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2022.2109562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arctic was dominated by the Delta wave that primarily lasted between July and December 2021 with varied epidemiological outcomes. An analysis of the Arctic’s subnational COVID-19 data revealed a massive increase in cases and deaths across all its jurisdictions but at varying time periods. However, the case fatality ratio (CFR) in most Arctic regions did not rise dramatically and was below national levels (except in Northern Russia). Based on the spatiotemporal patterns of the Delta outbreak, we identified four types of pandemic waves across Arctic regions: Tsunami (Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Northern Norway, Northern Finland, and Northern Canada), Superstorm (Alaska), Tidal wave (Northern Russia), and Protracted Wave (Northern Sweden). These regionally varied COVID-19 epidemiological dynamics are likely attributable to the inconsistency in implementing public health prevention measures, geographical isolation, and varying vaccination rates. A lesson remote and Indigenous communities can learn from the Arctic is that the three-prong (delay-prepare-respond) approach could be a tool in curtailing the impact of COVID-19 or future pandemics. This article is motivated by previous research that examined the first and second waves of the pandemic in the Arctic. Data are available at https://arctic.uni.edu/arctic-covid-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweta Tiwari
- ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA.,Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Andrey N Petrov
- ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA.,Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Michele Devlin
- ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA.,Center for Strategic Leadership, USA Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mark Welford
- Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Nikolay Golosov
- Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John DeGroote
- Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
| | - Tatiana Degai
- ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stanislav Ksenofontov
- ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA.,Department of Geography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
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