Developing Infectious Disease Outbreak Emergency Communications for Populations With Limited English Proficiency: Insights to Sustain Collaborations Between Local Health Departments and Community-Based Organizations

Abstract

Purpose

State and local public health departments (LHDs) are encouraged to collaborate with community-based organizations (CBOs) to enhance communication and promote protective practices with communities made vulnerable during emergencies, but there is little evidence-based understanding of practical approaches to fostering collaboration in this context. This research focuses on how collaboration enhances LHD capacity for effective communication for people with limited English proficiency (LEP) during infectious disease outbreaks specifically and strategies to facilitate productive LHD-CBO collaboration.

Design

Qualitative, telephone interviews, conducted March-October 2021.

Setting

Rural and urban jurisdictions with Chinese-speaking or Spanish-speaking populations across the United States.

Participants

36 LHD and 31 CBO staff working on outreach to Chinese and Spanish speakers during COVID-19.

Method

Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a team-based, codebook approach to thematic analysis.

Results

During COVID-19, CBOs extended LHD capacity to develop and disseminate effective communication, meaning communication that is rapidly in-language, culturally resonant, locally relevant, and trusted. Practical strategies to enable and sustain effective collaboration were needed to address operational dimensions (eg, material and administrative) and relational dimensions (eg, promoting trust and respect).

Conclusion

Policies and financing to support LHD-CBO collaborations are critical to improving communication with people with LEP and addressing long-standing inequities in outcomes during outbreaks.