How Did Women From South Asian Backgrounds and People Seeking Asylum and Refugees Look After Their Health and the Health of Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Community Research Approach

Background The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on people's lives globally and affected access to, utilisation and the delivery of healthcare. Many communities were disproportionally affected by the pandemic. Community-based research approaches may help address potential healthcare inequities by identifying and understanding people's experiences and needs relating to healthcare access and utilisation.

Methods For this qualitative study, members of community organisations were trained and supported to interview women from South Asian backgrounds and people seeking asylum and refuge about their experiences of accessing healthcare services and how they looked after their health and the health of others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-four people took part in a semi-structured interview from four community organisations in West Yorkshire, UK between July and December 2021. The approach to analysis was inductive, using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings Three themes were generated, each with its own subthemes: (1) COVID-19 magnifying existing challenges; (2) Adjusting to shifts and exclusions in healthcare, and (3) Healthcare experiences and trust. Profound psychological and social impacts were evident, with COVID-19 compounding existing life challenges. There was a commitment to following protective actions, despite perceptions of unclear and inadequate Government public health messaging. There were examples of extreme environmental challenges and using adaptation and flexibility to navigate the healthcare system. Perceived limitations of healthcare services were often ‘bridged’ through the support and advocacy of family and community members.

Conclusion Our findings highlight the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women from South Asian backgrounds and people seeking asylum and refuge, the inequality and inequity experienced whilst navigating healthcare services and looking after their health and the health of others during the pandemic, and how people adapted to rapidly evolving ways of engaging with the healthcare system. Investment in on-going community partnerships is essential to identify and work with the strengths, skills, resources and knowledge within communities to respond when needs arise.

Patient or Public Contribution Community researchers were part of the research team and involved in all phases of the research, including reviewing study documentation, participant recruitment and data collection, interpretation of the data and co-authoring this paper.