Benjamin F Bigelow1, Ronald E Saxton1, Alejandra Flores-Miller1, Heba H Mostafa2, Manisha J Loss3, Katherine H Phillips4, Adrianna M Moore5, W Daniel Hale1, Tina M Tolson5, Nicki S McCann5, Christina L Catlett6, Sherita H Golden7, Jeanne M Clark1, Kathleen Raquel Page8. 1. Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 2. Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 3. Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 4. Esperanza Center, Baltimore, Maryland. 5. Johns Hopkins Health System, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 6. Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 7. Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity, Baltimore, Maryland. 8. Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: kpage2@jhmi.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Latinxs have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Latinx immigrants, in particular, face significant barriers to SARS-CoV-2 testing, including lack of insurance, language barriers, stigma, work conflicts, and limited transportation. METHODS: In response to a disproportionately high SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate among Latinxs at the Johns Hopkins Health System, investigators implemented free community-based testing by partnering with religious leaders and leveraging the skill of trusted community health workers. Data were extracted from the electronic health record and a Research Electronic Data Capture database. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was evaluated per event stratified by race/ethnicity. Total rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity and categorical patient characteristics were compared between groups using chi-square tests. RESULTS: Between June 25, 2020 and October 15, 2020, a total of 1,786 patients (57.5% Latinx, 31.2% non-Hispanic White, 5.9% non-Hispanic Black, and 5.3% non-Hispanic other) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 in 18 testing events. Among them, 355 (19.9%) tested positive. The positivity rate was 31.5% for Latinxs, 7.6% for non-Hispanic Blacks, 3.4% for non-Hispanic Whites, and 5.3% for patients of other races/ethnicities. Compared with Latinxs who tested negative, Latinxs who tested positive were more likely to report Spanish as their preferred language (91.6% vs 81.7%, p<0.001), be younger (30.4 vs 33.4 years, p<0.008), and have a larger household size (4.8 vs 4.3 members, p<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Community-based testing identified high levels of ongoing SARS-CoV-2 transmission among primarily Latinxs with limited English proficiency. During this period, the overall positivity rate at this community testing site was almost 10 times higher among Latinxs than among non-Hispanic Whites.
INTRODUCTION: Latinxs have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Latinx immigrants, in particular, face significant barriers to SARS-CoV-2 testing, including lack of insurance, language barriers, stigma, work conflicts, and limited transportation. METHODS: In response to a disproportionately high SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate among Latinxs at the Johns Hopkins Health System, investigators implemented free community-based testing by partnering with religious leaders and leveraging the skill of trusted community health workers. Data were extracted from the electronic health record and a Research Electronic Data Capture database. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was evaluated per event stratified by race/ethnicity. Total rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity and categorical patient characteristics were compared between groups using chi-square tests. RESULTS: Between June 25, 2020 and October 15, 2020, a total of 1,786 patients (57.5% Latinx, 31.2% non-Hispanic White, 5.9% non-Hispanic Black, and 5.3% non-Hispanic other) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 in 18 testing events. Among them, 355 (19.9%) tested positive. The positivity rate was 31.5% for Latinxs, 7.6% for non-Hispanic Blacks, 3.4% for non-Hispanic Whites, and 5.3% for patients of other races/ethnicities. Compared with Latinxs who tested negative, Latinxs who tested positive were more likely to report Spanish as their preferred language (91.6% vs 81.7%, p<0.001), be younger (30.4 vs 33.4 years, p<0.008), and have a larger household size (4.8 vs 4.3 members, p<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Community-based testing identified high levels of ongoing SARS-CoV-2 transmission among primarily Latinxs with limited English proficiency. During this period, the overall positivity rate at this community testing site was almost 10 times higher among Latinxs than among non-Hispanic Whites.
Authors: Zelalem Mengesha; Esther Alloun; Danielle Weber; Mitchell Smith; Patrick Harris Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-29 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Ann E Woolley; Scott Dryden-Peterson; Andy Kim; Sarah Naz-McLean; Christina Kelly; Hannah H Laibinis; Josephine Bagnall; Jonathan Livny; Peijun Ma; Marek Orzechowski; Noam Shoresh; Stacey Gabriel; Deborah T Hung; Lisa A Cosimi Journal: medRxiv Date: 2022-02-03
Authors: Kathleen R Page; Eleonora Genovese; Matteo Franchi; Silvano Cella; Gianfrancesco Fiorini; Rim Tlili; Sebastian Salazar; Aline Duvoisin; Johann Cailhol; Yves Jackson Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-03-17 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Rebekka M Lee; Veronica L Handunge; Samantha L Augenbraun; Huy Nguyen; Cristina Huebner Torres; Alyssa Ruiz; Karen M Emmons Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-03-24
Authors: Harita S Shah; Suzanne Dolwick Grieb; Alejandra Flores-Miller; Katherine H Phillips; Kathleen R Page; Ana Cervantes; Cui Yang Journal: JMIR Form Res Date: 2022-05-12
Authors: Benjamin F Bigelow; Ronald E Saxton; Diego A Martínez; Alejandra Flores-Miller; Jong M Shin; Cassandra Parent; Samantha Williams; Katherine Hartman Phillips; Cui Yang; Kathleen Raquel Page Journal: J Public Health Manag Pract Date: 2022-09-05