The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the already underserved Latinx communities. The overall goal of the proposed testing research project is to decrease disparities in the morbidity and mortality patterns for COVID-19 through engaged partnerships with several communities in central California that are both historically underserved and vulnerable to COVID-19, namely the Latinx. These communities currently are experiencing infection rates that are three times higher than whites, and are among the highest in the U.S. They also are among the most socially and economically disadvantaged, have high rates of co-morbidities such as diabetes and asthma, live in overcrowded housing, and reside in some of the most polluted areas of the country. A high proportion are undocumented and employed in food production, especially farm labor, performing essential work that has been a backbone of the California economy, while simultaneously being marginalized. The proposed research will build upon long-term existing partnerships with an array of community-based organizations and trusted leaders in Latinx communities to develop interventions that address the barriers to SARS-CoV2 diagnostics, as part of a larger strategy to reduce transmission and control the pandemic in the Latinx population of central California. Because of the dynamic changes in incidence, shifting hubs of transmission, and policy changes from authorities, a comparator trial of different community- developed interventions is needed to provide information on which actions are feasible, acceptable, and effective. Hence, comparisons will be made between the Latinx population and whites in the same counties, and among Latinx persons from counties having different interventions, with adjustment for infection incidence rates and trajectories, as well as local policy changes and government interventions. We will pursue the overall goal with the following specific aims: 1) Determine the epidemiology of COVID-19 infections, COVID-19 related mortality, and SARS-CoV-2 testing rates in selected Latinx and white non-Latinx communities of targeted California counties, 2) Develop strategies to increase testing and reduce rates of infection in the targeted areas in collaboration with community partners and, 3) Disseminate information and knowledge gained from this project back to partnering communities, other grantees from this and other COVID-19 initiatives by full participation in RADx-UP Coordinating Data and Collection Center (CDCC), to the broad public, and to policy- makers. Experience and knowledge gained through achievement of these aims will set a firm foundation for subsequent research on COVID-19 and health disparities and will help to prepare communities to meet the challenges of future public health crises.
This project seeks to understand and overcome the barriers to testing for SARS-CoV2 in Latinx populations in California's central valley through interventions to increase testing. Because the epidemic is affecting far more Latinx than non-Latinx populations, the health disparities are a serious public health issue.
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