TY  - JOUR
AU  - Kroll, Camille
AU  - Johnson, Mikayla A.
AU  - Kepper, Maura M.
AU  - Verdecias, Niko
AU  - Kreuter, Matthew W.
PY  - 2023
TI  - An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis of Explanations for COVID-19-Related Racial Disparities Among St. Louis Residents: "I Don't Really Pay Attention to the Racial Stuff Very Much"
T2  - Preventing Chronic Disease
JO  - Prev Chronic Dis
SP  - E100
VL  - 20
CY  - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
N2  - INTRODUCTION  Public health explanations for the disproportionate share of COVID-19-related illness and death among the Black population often differ from lay explanations, which can affect the public's support for policies that address these disparities. This qualitative exploratory study examined the explanatory frameworks for COVID-19-related racial disparities in St. Louis among 54 St. Louis residents. METHODS  From August 16, 2021, through May 20, 2022, we conducted semistructured interviews among a convenience sample of 54 St. Louis residents about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed content analysis identified participants' explanatory frameworks for racial disparities in COVID-19-related illness and death. We disaggregated coded excerpts by race, age, education, and income to examine emerging themes. RESULTS  Lay explanatory frameworks for racial disparities in COVID-19 included vaccine mistrust, lack of personal responsibility, low perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, pre-existing conditions or genetic predisposition, institutional racism, barriers to care, low socioeconomic status, insufficient information on COVID-19, and the inability to work remotely. Black interview participants addressed issues of systemic racism, inequitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccines, and institutional mistrust, whereas White participants did not directly acknowledge the role of racism. Both Black and White participants identified lack of personal responsibility among young Black people as a source of these disparities. CONCLUSION  This work identifies a need for improved health communication about racial disparities in COVID-19-related illness and death. Messaging that highlights racism may be less effective among the White population than the Black population in the US, whereas narratives that include the theme of individual choice may appeal broadly. Further research is needed on the use of communication strategies based on lay individuals' explanatory frameworks for COVID-19-related racial disparities to enhance support for equitable public policy.
SN  - 1545-1151
UR  - https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230103
DO  - 10.5888/pcd20.230103
ER  -