dbGaP Study Accession: phs002874

NIH Institute/Center: NIMHD

RADx Data Program: RADx-UP

DOI: 10.60773/r2zx-gw24

Release Date: 08/30/2023

Study Description: Hispanics living in the United States have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in a disproportionate manner, including significantly higher infection and hospitalization rates compared with non-Hispanic whites. The El Paso, TX metropolitan area has a substantial Hispanic population that has been profoundly affected by the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, especially the vulnerable residents of rural El Paso County. Many of these residents suffer from marked cumulative disadvantages with limited healthcare, poor access to public transportation, work as essential workers in low-paying frontline jobs, and demonstrate a persistent hesitancy to interact with unfamiliar medical systems and processes, resulting in "SARS-CoV-2 testing deserts". There is a critical need to increase the number of individuals being tested for SARS-CoV-2 in El Paso County, however, success in this space requires an integrated and personalized approach whereby residents are engaged with and informed by trusted co-ethnics and local organizations. The aims strategically integrated University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), non-profit, business, and public partners, coupled with culturally-centric familial and Community Health Worker (CHWs) networks, as catalysts to: 1) reduce testing deficiencies by providing SARS-CoV-2 testing information, navigation strategies to testing sites, and implementing local pop-up testing sites, and 2) provide foundational data for understanding testing barriers and developing platforms for assessing future COVID-19 vaccine uptake willingness for El Paso residents. The UTEP Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), and associated Coronavirus Testing Program that provides CLIA-certified testing, was central to completion of the integrated approaches, and the established capability of the investigative team to interact with community partners and recruit participants was a prominent strength of the plan. The studies tested the novel hypothesis that improving the reach, acceptance, uptake and sustainability of SARS-CoV-2 testing for the most marginalized populations of El Paso County is dependent on implementing strategies that target the cultural, social and behavioral factors characteristic of this population. The multifaceted approach enhanced the testing capacity in the El Paso region, reduced testing hesitancy, increased coronavirus testing numbers for vulnerable populations within specific testing deserts, and exerted a sustained influence on the health status of the region by integrating the extensive collaborative networks that are essential for addressing the persistent negative social determinants of health.

Updated Date: 04/17/2024

Principal Investigator: Kirken, Robert A

Has Data Files: Yes

Study Domain: COVID Testing Deserts; Mobile Unit Testing; Social Determinants of Health; Testing Rate or Uptake; Vaccination Rate or Uptake

Data Collection Method: Survey

Keywords: CHWs; CLIA-certified Testing; Community Health Workers; Familial Influences; Pop-up Testing; Testing Navigation

Study Design: Cross-Sectional

Multi-Center Study: No

Data Types: Behavioral; Family History; Questionnaire or Survey; Social

Study Start Date: 11/01/2020

Study End Date: 10/31/2022

Species: Human

Estimated Cohort Size: 2930

Study Population Focus: Adults; Hispanics or Latinos; Older Adults or Elderly; Racial or Ethnic Minorities; Rural Communities; Underserved or Vulnerable Populations

Publication URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10049437/; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10057517/

Acknowledgement Statement: This study was supported through funding, 3U54MD007592-27S1, for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) as part of the RADx-UP program. Approved users should acknowledge the provision of data access by dbGaP for accession phs002874.v1.p1, and the NIH RADx Data Hub. Approved users should also acknowledge the specific version(s) of the dataset(s) obtained from the NIH RADx Data Hub.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: PA-20-135

NIH Grant or Contract Number(s): 3U54MD007592-27S1

Consent/Data Use Limitations: General Research Use