446 - Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Attitudes about Safety in School among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth and Adults

Saturday, April 29, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 446
Publication Number: 446.219

May M.. Okihiro, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, KANEOHE, HI, United States; Ruben Juarez, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States; Krit Phankitnirundorn, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, United States; Alika Maunakea, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States; Cheridean Kaaialii, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waianae, HI, United States

Presenting Author(s)

May M. Okihiro, MD (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
KANEOHE, Hawaii, United States

Background: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) across the country, including Hawaii, have experienced among the highest rates of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and mortality. They have also had low rates of COVID-19 vaccination. To reduce pandemic-related health disparities and support the safe return of students to school, we implemented a screening program for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at community sites, including schools serving a large number of NHPI students in Hawaii.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine attitudes and experiences about the COVID pandemic among NHPI youth, parents, and teachers, in order to better serve schools and students.

Design/Methods: This study was implemented by our community-academic research team, based at four federally-qualified community health centers across three Hawaiian Islands. We invited adults and youth (12-17 years old), participating in our COVID-19 testing and educational programs, to take part in this cross-sectional study. Adults provided written consent. For youth, we obtained assent and parental consent. Participants completed an anonymous web-based survey. Survey questions consisted of common-data elements from the NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics: Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative. Questions focused on demographics, the impact of the pandemic, attitudes about vaccines, and COVID vaccination status. We also asked participants to indicate, on a scale from 0 to 4, if they feel safe from COVID-19 at school and in their neighborhood.

Results: From January to September 2022, 530 youth and 862 adult parents, school staff, and teachers participated in the study (N= 1,392; Table 1). In comparison to adult participants, youth had a higher proportion of males (47% vs. 28%) and NHPI (71% vs. 47%). Many youth and adults experienced the deaths of family members and close friends due to COVID-19. Adults indicated economic hardships, including the inability to pay bills (21%) and depleted savings (33%). Perception of safety against COVID at school was positively correlated with neighborhood safety (cor = 0.48, p < 0.001; Figure 1). However, individuals tended to feel safer at schools compared to their neighborhood, especially among youth.

Conclusion(s):
The pandemic has profoundly impacted youth and adults from NHPI communities. Compared with adults, more youth perceive school as a safer place in comparison to the larger community. These perceptions warrant further examination and may be the foundation for school-based programs to address the negative impact of the pandemic on youth and families.