tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Am J Trop Med Hyg
. 2021 Sep 1;tpmd210779.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0779. Online ahead of print.
Association between Preferred Language and Risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Children in the United States
William R Otto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Robert W Grundmeier[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Diana Montoya-Williams[SUP] 4 5 3 [/SUP], Wanjikũ F M Njoroge[SUP] 6 5 [/SUP], Kate E Wallis[SUP] 5 3 [/SUP], Jeffrey S Gerber[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Katherine Yun[SUP] 2 5 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Hispanic, and other individuals of color, although data on the effect of a person's language on SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited. Considering the barriers suffered by immigrants and non-English-speaking families, we tested whether children with a preferred language other than English was associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Children from families with a preferred language other than English had a higher predicted probability of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.76; 95% CI, 2.07-6.67) during the first wave of the pandemic. This discrepancy continued into the second wave (adjusted odds ratio, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.10-2.41), although the difference compared with families who prefer to speak English decreased over time. These findings suggest that children from non-English-speaking families are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and efforts to reverse systemic inequities causing this increased risk are needed.
. 2021 Sep 1;tpmd210779.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0779. Online ahead of print.
Association between Preferred Language and Risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Children in the United States
William R Otto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Robert W Grundmeier[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Diana Montoya-Williams[SUP] 4 5 3 [/SUP], Wanjikũ F M Njoroge[SUP] 6 5 [/SUP], Kate E Wallis[SUP] 5 3 [/SUP], Jeffrey S Gerber[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Katherine Yun[SUP] 2 5 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34469330
- DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0779
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Hispanic, and other individuals of color, although data on the effect of a person's language on SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited. Considering the barriers suffered by immigrants and non-English-speaking families, we tested whether children with a preferred language other than English was associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Children from families with a preferred language other than English had a higher predicted probability of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.76; 95% CI, 2.07-6.67) during the first wave of the pandemic. This discrepancy continued into the second wave (adjusted odds ratio, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.10-2.41), although the difference compared with families who prefer to speak English decreased over time. These findings suggest that children from non-English-speaking families are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and efforts to reverse systemic inequities causing this increased risk are needed.