COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Essential Public Health Services and Online Health Communication-Appalachian Kentucky, March-December 2020.

Autor:	Riggs MA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, margo.riggs1@gmail.com., Ortiz-Jurado K; Shaping Our Appalachian Region., Klein K; Wabash College.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Journal of Appalachian health [J Appalach Health] 2022 Jul 01; Vol. 4 (2), pp. 8-25. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jul 01 (Print Publication: 2022).
DOI:	10.13023/jah.0402.03
Abstrakt:	Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic posed many challenges for local health departments (LHDs). This study examines how stay-at-home orders impacted the provision of essential public health services and subsequent increased use of online health communication by LHDs for rural populations in Appalachian Kentucky during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A survey to gather information about provision of essential public health services was administered to five LHDs representing 13 counties between June 2020 and December 2020. Additionally, demographic and health-outcome data from LHD, state health department, and CDC websites were reviewed, alongside health communications posted on LHD social media pages. Using these data, the authors conducted descriptive analyses to assess how essential public health services and health communications were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: In Appalachian Kentucky, limited internet access was identified by all LHDs as the most common barrier for clients of essential public health services. During stay-at-home orders, the use of telehealth increased participation rates for programs that support parents for optimal growth and development of children. Additionally, social media was the most preferred media source by all LHDs to communicate with the local population to promote health education. Implications: By using publicly available data and conducting interviews with LHDs, alongside examination of the health information they posted online, the study is able to characterize the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on providing essential public health services-successes and challenges. Expanding use of telehealth for essential public health services and increased access to online health communication improves access to care and information for rural populations in Appalachian Kentucky. Competing Interests: Cover Page Footnote Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions of this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC. No competing financial or editorial interests were reported by the authors of this paper. (Copyright © 2022 Margaret A. Riggs, Kenny Ortiz-Jurado, and Keith Klein.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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