COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans
Abstract Background COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as masking, social distancing, avoiding group gatherings, and vaccination uptake are crucial interventions to preventing the spread of COVID-19. At present, COVID-19 data are aggregated and fail to identify subgroup variation in Asian American...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15354-y |
| _version_ | 1797863337144352768 |
|---|---|
| author | Kao Kang Kue Vang Sheryl Catz Christiana Drake Dian Baker Lorena Garcia |
| author_facet | Kao Kang Kue Vang Sheryl Catz Christiana Drake Dian Baker Lorena Garcia |
| author_sort | Kao Kang Kue Vang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as masking, social distancing, avoiding group gatherings, and vaccination uptake are crucial interventions to preventing the spread of COVID-19. At present, COVID-19 data are aggregated and fail to identify subgroup variation in Asian American communities such as Hmong Americans. To understand the acceptance, adoption, and adherence to COVID-19 mitigation behaviors, an investigation of Hmong Americans’ contextual and personal characteristics was conducted. Methods This study aims to describe COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among Hmong Americans and the contextual and personal characteristics that influence these behaviors. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from April 8 till June 1, 2021, with Hmong Americans aged 18 and over. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the overall characteristics and COVID-19 related behaviors of Hmong Americans. Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact Test were computed to describe COVID-19 mitigation behaviors by gender and generational status (a marker of acculturation). Results The sample included 507 participants who completed the survey. A majority of the Hmong American participants in our study reported masking (449/505, 88.9%), social distancing (270/496, 55.3%), avoiding group gatherings (345/505, 68.3%), avoiding public spaces (366/506, 72.3%), and obtaining the COVID-19 vaccination (350/506, 69.2%) to stay safe from COVID-19. Women were more likely to socially distance (P = .005), and avoid family (P = .005), and social gatherings (P = .009) compared to men. Social influence patterns related to mitigation behaviors varied by sex. Men were more likely compared to women to be influenced by Hmong community leaders to participate in family and group gatherings (P = .026), masking (P = .029), social distancing (P = .022), and vaccination uptake (P = .037), whereas healthcare providers and government officials were social influencers for social distancing and masking for women. Patterns of social distancing and group gatherings were also influenced by generational status. Conclusion Contextual and personal characteristics influence COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English speaking Hmong Americans. These findings have implications for identifying and implementing culturally appropriate health messages, future public health interventions, policy development, and ongoing research with this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:33:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83499fedbbca47c8b80aa3d7279351e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:33:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-83499fedbbca47c8b80aa3d7279351e72023-03-22T12:35:30ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-03-0123111610.1186/s12889-023-15354-yCOVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong AmericansKao Kang Kue Vang0Sheryl Catz1Christiana Drake2Dian Baker3Lorena Garcia4Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California DavisBetty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California DavisDepartment of Statistics, University of California DavisSchool of Nursing, California State UniversityDepartment of Public Health Sciences-Division of Epidemiology, University of California DavisAbstract Background COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as masking, social distancing, avoiding group gatherings, and vaccination uptake are crucial interventions to preventing the spread of COVID-19. At present, COVID-19 data are aggregated and fail to identify subgroup variation in Asian American communities such as Hmong Americans. To understand the acceptance, adoption, and adherence to COVID-19 mitigation behaviors, an investigation of Hmong Americans’ contextual and personal characteristics was conducted. Methods This study aims to describe COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among Hmong Americans and the contextual and personal characteristics that influence these behaviors. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from April 8 till June 1, 2021, with Hmong Americans aged 18 and over. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the overall characteristics and COVID-19 related behaviors of Hmong Americans. Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact Test were computed to describe COVID-19 mitigation behaviors by gender and generational status (a marker of acculturation). Results The sample included 507 participants who completed the survey. A majority of the Hmong American participants in our study reported masking (449/505, 88.9%), social distancing (270/496, 55.3%), avoiding group gatherings (345/505, 68.3%), avoiding public spaces (366/506, 72.3%), and obtaining the COVID-19 vaccination (350/506, 69.2%) to stay safe from COVID-19. Women were more likely to socially distance (P = .005), and avoid family (P = .005), and social gatherings (P = .009) compared to men. Social influence patterns related to mitigation behaviors varied by sex. Men were more likely compared to women to be influenced by Hmong community leaders to participate in family and group gatherings (P = .026), masking (P = .029), social distancing (P = .022), and vaccination uptake (P = .037), whereas healthcare providers and government officials were social influencers for social distancing and masking for women. Patterns of social distancing and group gatherings were also influenced by generational status. Conclusion Contextual and personal characteristics influence COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English speaking Hmong Americans. These findings have implications for identifying and implementing culturally appropriate health messages, future public health interventions, policy development, and ongoing research with this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15354-yHmong AmericansMaskingSocial DistancingGroup gatheringsCOVID-19 vaccination |
| spellingShingle | Kao Kang Kue Vang Sheryl Catz Christiana Drake Dian Baker Lorena Garcia COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans BMC Public Health Hmong Americans Masking Social Distancing Group gatherings COVID-19 vaccination |
| title | COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans |
| title_full | COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans |
| title_short | COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans |
| title_sort | covid 19 mitigation behaviors among english speaking hmong americans |
| topic | Hmong Americans Masking Social Distancing Group gatherings COVID-19 vaccination |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15354-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kaokangkuevang covid19mitigationbehaviorsamongenglishspeakinghmongamericans AT sherylcatz covid19mitigationbehaviorsamongenglishspeakinghmongamericans AT christianadrake covid19mitigationbehaviorsamongenglishspeakinghmongamericans AT dianbaker covid19mitigationbehaviorsamongenglishspeakinghmongamericans AT lorenagarcia covid19mitigationbehaviorsamongenglishspeakinghmongamericans |