Insights from stakeholders in Sydney's diverse ethnic communities during the COVID-19 Delta phase

Objectives

Ethnic diverse communities were disproportionately impacted with increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. The dearth of access to timely and reliable, culturally appropriate communications regarding COVID-19 and routes of transmission was particularly damaging. This study reflects diverse communities’ communication needs and recognises strategies implemented by the communities to fill these gaps that should be applied to future public health emergencies. This study aims to describe culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communications challenges, and the strategies used by health, social and community services to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 Delta wave in Greater Sydney.

Study design

Exploratory qualitative study.

Methods

Qualitative interviews and thematic analysis were used to explore challenges encountered and strategies used during the COVID-19 pandemic (Delta wave in June 2021 and the aftermath) and the vaccination program (began in January 2021 and reached the Government's target by February 2022) across health, social, Ministry and CALD community sectors.

Results

Twenty-seven participants from 24 social and health care programs were part of the study. Themes were mixed messaging, antivaccination and other misinformation/disinformation, and cross-cultural misunderstandings, while strategies used coalesced under the themes of Ministry-community collaboration, health-community collaboration and community-led actions.

Conclusions

Public health information should be disseminated in ways that are equally understandable to different groups, being mindful of the vast variety of ethnicities residing in Greater Sydney.

The development of a sustainable collective that aims at developing precise public health messaging policies must be sought early in future pandemics.