•  
  •  
 

XULAneXUS

Publication Date

12-10-2021

Abstract

This case study examines how the Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (LA-CEAL) worked to engage African American residents in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on research interviews with Black physicians, pharmacists, and community health providers, along with field notes collected during 12 months of project assistance, the study addresses four research questions concerning African American hesitancy toward COVID-19 treatment and vaccination, strategies for community engagement, clinical trial recruitment, and inclusive research practices during a pandemic. Findings indicate that vaccine hesitancy and research mistrust among Black New Orleanians are rooted in a long history of scientific racism and medical abuse, compounded by inadequate access to culturally responsive health communication. The study demonstrates that effective engagement requires amplifying trusted Black medical voices, leveraging deeply rooted community institutions such as churches and federally qualified health centers, and deploying social media platforms to distribute accurate, culturally specific health information. The COVID-19 pandemic both exposed and exacerbated longstanding racial health disparities in New Orleans, where African Americans accounted for a disproportionate share of early deaths. This work argues that hyper-local, community-centered engagement models like LA-CEAL offer a replicable framework for reducing medical mistrust and improving health equity outcomes in underserved Black communities during and beyond public health crises. Abstract provided by the editors.

Download

Share

COinS