COVID-19 Prevention among Spanish-Speakers in San Francisco

The PRISE Center, in collaboration with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) contract tracing program, received funding to conduct a qualitative study to help prevent COVID-19 spread among Spanish-Speaking populations in San Francisco. The research team conducted in-depth interviews with 50 people who had been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, focusing on Spanish-Speaking residents living in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

The study had two main aims:

• To identify barriers—and possible supports—to people following COVID-19 guidelines like social distancing, testing for COVID-19, and getting vaccinated.
• To develop practical strategies that make it easier for people to take protective actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This research provided useful information that helped strengthen SFDPH’s contact tracing efforts among Spanish-Speakers.