Long COVID impacts: the voices and views of diverse Black and Latinx residents in Massachusetts.
BMC Public Health
; 24(1): 2265, 2024 Aug 21.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39169314
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To understand how Long COVID is impacting the health and social conditions of the Black and Latinx communities.BACKGROUND:
Emerging research on Long COVID has identified three distinct characteristics, including multi-organ damage, persistent symptoms, and post-hospitalization complications. Given Black and Latinx communities experienced significantly higher COVID rates in the first phase of the pandemic they may be disproportionately impacted by Long COVID.METHODS:
Eleven focus groups were conducted in four languages with diverse Black and Latinx individuals (n = 99) experiencing prolonged symptoms of COVID-19 or caring for family members with prolonged COVID-19 symptoms. Data was analyzed thematically.RESULTS:
Most participants in non-English language groups reported they were unfamiliar with the diagnosis of long COVID, despite experiencing symptoms. Long COVID impacts spanned financial and housing stability to physical and mental health impacts. Participants reported challenging encounters with health care providers, a lack of support managing symptoms and difficulty performing activities of daily living including work.CONCLUSIONS:
There is a need for multilingual, accessible information about Long COVID symptoms, improved outreach and healthcare delivery, and increased ease of enrollment in long-term disability and economic support programs.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Black or African American
/
Hispanic or Latino
/
Focus Groups
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Public Health
Journal subject:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States