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Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander People in the United States, 2021.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Subica, AM; Aitaoto, N; Li, Q; Morey, BN; Wu, L-T; Iwamoto, DK; Guerrero, EG; Moss, HB
Published in: Public Health Rep
2023

OBJECTIVES: Minimal research has assessed COVID-19's unique impact on the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NH/PI) population-an Indigenous-colonized racial group with social and health disparities that increase their risk for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. To address this gap, we explored the scope of COVID-19 outcomes, vaccination status, and health in diverse NH/PI communities. METHODS: NH/PI staff at partner organizations collected survey data from April through November 2021 from 319 community-dwelling NH/PI adults in 5 states with large NH/PI populations: Arkansas, California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson χ2 tests, independent and paired t tests, and linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 30% of survey participants had contracted COVID-19, 16% had a close family member who died of the disease, and 64% reported COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Thirty percent reported fair/poor health, 21% currently smoked cigarettes, and 58% reported obesity. Survey participants reported heightened COVID-19-related psychosocial distress (mean score = 4.9 on 10-point scale), which was more likely when health outcomes (general health, sleep, obesity) were poor or a family member had died of COVID-19. Logistic regression indicated that age, experiencing COVID-19 distress, and past-year use of influenza vaccines were associated with higher odds of COVID-19 vaccine uptake (1.06, 1.18, and 7.58 times, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our empirical findings highlight the acute and understudied negative impact of COVID-19 on NH/PI communities in the United States and suggest new avenues for improving NH/PI community health, vaccination, and recovery from COVID-19.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Public Health Rep

DOI

EISSN

1468-2877

Publication Date

2023

Volume

138

Issue

1

Start / End Page

164 / 173

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaccination
  • United States
  • Public Health
  • Pandemics
  • Obesity
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
  • Humans
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19
  • Adult
 

Citation

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Subica, A. M., Aitaoto, N., Li, Q., Morey, B. N., Wu, L.-T., Iwamoto, D. K., … Moss, H. B. (2023). Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander People in the United States, 2021. Public Health Rep, 138(1), 164–173. https://doi.org/10.1177/00333549221123579
Subica, Andrew M., Nia Aitaoto, Qiuxi Li, Brittany N. Morey, Li-Tzy Wu, Derek K. Iwamoto, Erick G. Guerrero, and Howard B. Moss. “Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander People in the United States, 2021.Public Health Rep 138, no. 1 (2023): 164–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/00333549221123579.
Subica AM, Aitaoto N, Li Q, Morey BN, Wu L-T, Iwamoto DK, et al. Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander People in the United States, 2021. Public Health Rep. 2023;138(1):164–73.
Subica, Andrew M., et al. “Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander People in the United States, 2021.Public Health Rep, vol. 138, no. 1, 2023, pp. 164–73. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/00333549221123579.
Subica AM, Aitaoto N, Li Q, Morey BN, Wu L-T, Iwamoto DK, Guerrero EG, Moss HB. Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander People in the United States, 2021. Public Health Rep. 2023;138(1):164–173.
Journal cover image

Published In

Public Health Rep

DOI

EISSN

1468-2877

Publication Date

2023

Volume

138

Issue

1

Start / End Page

164 / 173

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaccination
  • United States
  • Public Health
  • Pandemics
  • Obesity
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
  • Humans
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19
  • Adult