December 3, 2020

Multidisciplinary Community-Based Investigation of a COVID-19 Outbreak Among Marshallese and Hispanic/Latino Communities — Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, March–June 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): disparities

• An Arkansas Department of Health report from June 2020 reported that Marshallese and Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) persons in Benton and Washington counties accounted for 64% of COVID-19 cases and 57% of associated deaths despite representing approximately 19% of the population. Focus group discussions and key-informant interviews revealed lack of relevant health communications, limited coordination between stakeholders, mistrust of the medical system, financial need to work, and household density as drivers of disparities.

Center et al. (Dec 4, 2020). Multidisciplinary Community-Based Investigation of a COVID-19 Outbreak Among Marshallese and Hispanic/Latino Communities — Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, March–June 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6948a2