Howard University Research Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities

PROJECT ABSTRACTCenters for Disease Control data continue to show that, in unadjusted analyses, Non-Hispanic Blacks, IndigenousAmericans and Hispanic and Latino persons have higher COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations, and deaths compared toNon-Hispanic Whites. The observed differences in morbidity and mortality do not appear to be adequately explained bypre-existing risk factors. It is becoming widely accepted that COVID-19 disparities are, in large part, a direct result ofstructural violence; defined as the built in differences in distribution of resources, education and literacy, medical care,social and economic opportunities, and, importantly, power to decide. In keeping with recommendations that pandemicresponse planning and readiness should include addressing social injustice, the proposed study seeks to lay a foundationfor a long-term response to the social determinants of health disparities that have been laid bare by COVID-19. Thepopulation of interest for this study are African Americans in the DC metropolitan area with an emphasis on communitiesthat experience social, economic, and health vulnerabilities. To achieve our aims, we have convened a broad-based groupof diverse scholars, health professionals, and community stakeholders. This group will collaboratively create and curatean information repository that will be used to create strategies to guide interventions to address the current crisis, with alens toward long-term change. We will test two specific interventions; both designed to increase research literacy andpromote community capacity for informed decision making about COVID-19 response behaviors including participationin testing, clinical research, and vaccination. We hypothesize that messages that emphasize informed choice will promotemore favorable attitudes toward COVID-19 research and vaccination. The first intervention approach will conveneopportunities for researchers and community members to have frank dialogues about the quality and relevance ofemerging science and the unique ethical challenges presented by the pandemic. The second intervention will applyevidence-based community health work interventions to address community information needs about COVID-19. Thesecommunity health interventions will also be responsive to everyday health and social priorities that might take precedenceover considerations of adhering to recommendations for COVID-19 response. We anticipate that these activities willpromote trust in using research information to make informed decision because the trust is not in the expert knowledge,but in the individual's ability to weigh the evidence and draw conclusions. We anticipate that this project will result inimportant outcomes including: 1) replicable approaches for enhancing existing networks for engaging communities intesting, follow-up care and social services to address basic needs related to COVID-19; 2) creation of a trusted COVID-19communication network to reach underserved and/or vulnerable populations and 3) evidence-based materials andapproaches to address current misrepresentations or misunderstandings inhibiting uptake of COVID-19 testing andvaccination.