Despite impressive strides toward proper health education about the pandemic, in resource‐limited contexts, health information dissemination occurs within a structural context that restricts the enactment of agency and further marginalizes the most vulnerable. Through observations of and reflections about Ghana's work in health communication about the COVID‐19 pandemic, this essay examines the key processes and outcomes of COVID‐19 information dissemination in Ghana, highlighting the structural factors that contribute to health inequities during the pandemic. We argue that although Ghana has been commended continentally and globally for the country's efforts in containing the virus and vaccinating its populace, there is evidence of health information access disparities across the country, especially in rural communities. In doing so, we increase knowledge about health information needs and gaps, and conclude by making recommendations for public health practitioners in Ghana and similar contexts.

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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This community-engaged study explores Community Health Workers (CHWs), perspectives on i) barriers to cervical cancer screening and ii) the acceptability and feasibility of CHW-facilitated HPV self-sampling as a means of reducing existing cervical cancer disparities. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 CHWs in 2021 to gain insights into barriers to cervical cancer screening and the acceptability and feasibility of CHW-facilitated self sampling in their communities. Recruitment began in Lake County then expanded to East Chicago after initial interviews revealed that some community members seek care in this area. An IRB approved email was sent out to community partners’ mailing lists inviting CHWs to join a 30–60 minute interview. Participants received a $25 electronic gift card as compensation. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and then analyzed by the study team, using a combination of inductive and deductive coding. The Socio-Ecological Model was used as a guiding framework to analyze multilevel barriers and facilitators to screening. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: CHW-facilitated HPV self-sampling shows promise of mitigating (without eliminating) several existing barriers to cervical cancer screening, with six key considerations. Privacy (for most), time saved, and comfort were perceived to be major facilitators for acceptability, with concerns about the novelty of this approach, trust in provider (as opposed to CHW) expertise, and lack of privacy at home (for some) emerging as barriers. In terms of feasibility, synergies with existing CHW work, and some community members’ prior experience with self-sampling were found to be facilitators, with CHW’s self-efficacy in providing adequate support and limited time constituting areas of concerns for feasibility. Considerations for adoption included CHW training, gender concordance, safety and respect, among others. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: In light of national calls to engage CHWs in screening delivery and leverage self-sampling, this study provides CHW perspectives as key stakeholders on a screening model that directly engages them, providing insights that can inform successful implementation to increase screening in Lake County and similarly underserved contexts in the US.

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Climate change impacts are being felt around the world, threatening human well-being and global food security. Social scientists in communication and other fields, in tandem with physical scientists, are critical for implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies effectively and equitably. In the face of rapidly evolving circumstances, it is time to take stock of our current climate change communication research and look toward where we need to go. Based on our systematic review of mid- to current climate change research trends in communication as well as climate change response recommendations by the American Meteorological Society, we suggest future directions for research. We urgently recommend communication research that (1) addresses immediate mitigation and adaptation concerns in local communities and (2) is more geographically diverse, particularly focusing on the African continent, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and certain parts of Asia.