What is the project?
The SARS- CoV-2 virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, by December 2019, with 119 cases in the province and five additional cases from the surrounding provinces. Initial communication on the virus emergence focused on calming global fears while scientists explored the new virus origin and virology.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) enacted communication plans to guide governments on communicating the risk of the virus and safety precautions that countries should take to protect their population. Factors that increase the risk of getting infection and death from COVID-19 include age, pre-existing health conditions, ethnicity, household size, and occupation, and these are factors associated with inequalities. In the United Kingdom (UK), COVID-19 risks and outcomes were higher in all non-white populations; however, related communication was a significant challenge in ethnic minority groups. Therefore, this project explored the communication flows within ethnic minority communities to understand how information on the COVID-19 pandemic circulated within these groups. The research explored how information was shared within communities, the types of media used, and how the communities were supported through media use. The project also explored relationships between community members, local authorities (health officials), and policymakers.
What is the aim?
The research aimed to investigate health information sharing within ethnic communities during the
COVID-19 pandemic and examine how media supported communities in navigating their experiences and maintaining connection and identity.
Who is involved?
The University of Leicester
The Centre for Ethnic Health Research
Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies
Contact
Barbara Czyznikowska
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