AUTHOR=Van Rensburg Dillon , Adams Alexandra K. , Perez Georgina , Bishop Sonia , Warne Teresa , Hassell Laurie , Quigley Thomas , Garza Lorenzo , Dupuis Virgil , Drain Paul K. , Whiting Sorrell Anna , Ko Linda K. 

TITLE=Factors influencing COVID-19 testing among Native Americans and Latinos in two rural agricultural communities: a qualitative study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1220052

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1220052

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>To examine factors influencing decisions to test for COVID-19 among Native Americans on the Flathead Reservation in Montana and the Latino community in the Yakima Valley of Washington state.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We conducted 30 key informant interviews with community leaders and six focus groups with community members to examine factors impacting decisions to test for COVID-19 during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic from May 2021 to June 2021.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Three major themes that impacted testing for COVID-19 were identified: (1) Social factors, including the influence of families and friends and employment practices; (2) health factors, including testing procedures, home-based testing, and health communication; and (3) contextual factors, including distrust for government and medical communities and the impact on cultural practices and celebrations.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Social, health, and contextual factors influence the decision to test for COVID-19. Understanding the community's perception is critical for successful implementation of preventive strategies.</p></sec>