Risk Perception and Health Precautions Towards COVID-19 Among Older Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Adults in South Australia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background Risk perceptions and precaution-taking against COVID-19 are affected by individuals’ health status, psychosocial vulnerabilities and cultural dimensions. This cross-sectional study investigates risk perceptions associated with COVID-19 and specifically the problem- and emotion-focused health precautions of older, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) South Australians. Methods Cross-sectional research involving self-administration of an online survey. Participants were CALD adults living in South Australia, aged 60 years and above (n = 155). Multi-indicator surveys were analyzed using Stata/MP version 13.0 and multiple linear regression models fitted to examine associations between risk perceptions and problem- and emotion-focused health precautions. Results Dread risk returned the highest mean score; COVID-19 was perceived as a catastrophe. Mean scores for fear showed that participants were worried about COVID-19 and scared of becoming infected. Participants followed health advice as they were worried [β 0.15; 95% CI 0.07, 0.23] and realized the effect of COVID-19 on them [β 0.15; 95% CI 0.02, 0.28], or worried and had trust in experts’ knowledge and managing capacity [β 0.17; 95% CI 0.06, 0.28]. Age was negatively associated with sum-score of problem-focused coping: compared to participants aged 60–69 years, 80+ years revealed a decrease in problem-focused health precautions. Variables like education (primary schooling [β 2.80; 95% CI 0.05, 5.55] and bachelor degree [β 3.16; 95% CI 0.07, 6.25] versus no formal education), self-confidence in reducing risk, and fear [β 0.84; 95% CI 0.31, 1.36] significantly affected emotional-focused health precautions. Conclusion This local study has global implications. It showed that COVID-19 has psychosocial and environmental implications for older CALD adults. When many CALD populations have existing vulnerabilities to intersecting disadvantage, cultural-tailoring of interventions and pandemic response plans may buffer the effects of compounding disaster. Larger studies are needed to compare risk perception and health response patterns across countries and cultural groupings.

The COVID-19 risk perceptions, health precautions, and emergency preparedness in older CALD adults in South Australia: A cross-sectional study

“…[ 26 ] This lack of compliance to emergency preparation in oldest CALD adults can be explained by either their experiences from previous pandemics, such as (H1N1) Influenza or reluctance because of health illiteracy. [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“It’s no use saying it in English”: A qualitative study exploring community leaders’ perceptions of the challenges and opportunities with translating and interpreting COVID-19 related public health messaging to reach ethnic minorities in Australia

“…Studies from Denmark, Australia, Canada, and the US have documented delays in the availability of official guidance in relevant languages for the respective countries and issues with the approaches used to disseminate resources into CaLD communities, with a particular focus on groups with lower language and literacy levels, or communities with oral languages [3,[10][11]. These issues are heightened amongst older people from CaLD backgrounds, which can be attributed to their inability to search for health information online and a communication gap between the adults from CaLD backgrounds and the public health information dissemination system [12]. CaLD populations can be left behind in their access to and understanding of recommendations, compounded by cultural discordance and mistrust of health institutions [13].…”

“…19 information exclusively from overseas resources[CL 05,11,12,15,21]. Older generations of CaLD communities, in particular, may access their news from overseas newspapers and streaming TV services, missing critical local information.…”

“…Australia. Representatives of Serbian, Middle Eastern and Indonesian communities, for example, expressed concern that elderly members of their communities were digesting COVID-19 information exclusively from overseas resources[CL 05,11,12,15,21]. Older generations of CaLD communities, in particular, may access their news from overseas newspapers and streaming TV services, missing critical local information.…”

“…importance of harnessing social media in disseminating critical public health messaging[CL 08, 09,12,15,16, 20,17,21]. Mainstream media is no longer sufficient in reaching the majority of populations groups, especially CaLD communities.…”