COVID-19 experiences in Spanish-speaking communities 

This interdisciplinary and collaborative project between researchers in the social  sciences and humanities, and Latinx non-profit community partners, seeks to collect quantitative and qualitative data from Latinx and Spanish-speaking (LSS) populations in Virginia regarding perceptions of COVID-19, its vaccine, and health communication  networks. The data reported on below were collected between May 28th and August 12th, 2021.

In partnership with

Comité Salvadoreño Paisanos Unidos (COSPU) and Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI)

Dr. Diana Galarreta-Aima
Assistant Professor of Spanish

Dr. Carlos Alemán
Associate Professor of Communication Studies

Dr. Andrea Martinez Gonzalez
Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Dr. Tobias Reynolds-Tylus
Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Según el Departamento de Salud de Virginia, la población hispana/latina en Virginia esta desproporcionadamente afectada por la carga de COVID-19. Las tasas de COVID-19, hospitalización y muertes por COVID-19 son 2 veces más altas para los hispanos que para los blancos en Virginia.

Nuestro equipo de investigación encuestó a 353 adultos que son hispanos/latinos que viven en Virginia sobre sus percepciones y comportamientos en relación a COVID-19. Estas son algunas conclusiones principales de los datos encontrados:

  • La mayoría (84.1%) vio a COVID-19 como un problema serio
  • La mayoría (74.5%) conocía a alguien que tuvo COVID-19
  • Aproximadamente 2 de 3 (68.6%) han recibido la vacuna contra COVID-19
  • Las razones más comunes por recibir la vacuna eran para protegerse a sí mismos (83.1%) y para proteger a sus seres queridos (82.2%)
  • Las razones más comunes para no recibir la vacuna eran por miedo de los efectos secundarios (59.5%), desconfianza en la vacuna contra COVID-19 (41.4%) y desconfianza en el gobierno (36.0%)
  • Los profesionales médicos, tanto locales (p.ej., doctores, enfermeras) como federales (p.ej., autoridades sanitarias), son las fuentes más confiadas para información sobre COVID-19

Translated by Samantha Mostajo

According to the Virginia Department of Health, Hispanic/Latino populations in Virginia disproportionately bear the burden of COVID-19. Rates of COVID-19, hospitalization and deaths from COVID-19 are 2x higher for Hispanics than for Whites in Virginia.

Our research team surveyed 353 Hispanic/Latino adults living in Virginia about their COVID-19 perceptions and behaviors. Some key findings from the data include:

  • A majority (84.1%) viewed COVID-19 as a serious issue
  • Most (74.5%) personally knew someone who had COVID-19
  • Approximately 2 out of 3 (68.6%) had received a COVID-19 vaccine
  • The most common reasons for getting vaccinated were to protect oneself (83.1%) and to protect loved ones (82.2%)
  • The most common reasons for not getting vaccinated were fear of side effects (59.5%), distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine (41.4%), and distrust of the government (36.0%)
  • Medical professionals, both local (e.g., doctors, nurses) and federal (e.g., surgeon general), were the most trusted sources for COVID-19 information.

View Presentation

Virginia COVID-19 Report Amongst 353 Hispanic/Latino Adult Participants
by Elizabeth Pope

View Presentation
Graphs by Elizabeth Pope