The public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England- a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities
Authors: McNulty Cliodna AM , Sides Eirwen , Thomas Amy , Kamal Atiya , Syeda Rowshonara B , Kaissi Awatif , Lecky Donna M , Patel Mahendra G , Campos-Matos Ines , Shukla Rashmi , Brown Colin Stewart , Pareek Manish , Sollars Loretta , Nellums Laura B , Greenway Jane , Jones Leah Ffion 
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To explore public reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic across diverse ethnic groups.

Design

Remote qualitative interviews and focus groups in English or Punjabi. Data were transcribed and analysed through inductive thematic analysis.

Setting

England and Wales June-October 2020.

Participants

100 participants from 19 diverse ‘self-identified’ ethnic groups.

Results

Dismay, frustration and altruism were reported across all ethnic groups during the first six to nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dismay was caused by participants’ reported individual, family and community risks, and loss of support networks. Frustration was caused by reported lack of recognition of the efforts of minority ethnic groups (MEGs), inaction by government to address COVID-19 and inequalities, rule breaking by government advisors, changing government rules around: border controls, personal protective equipment, social distancing, eating out, and perceived poor communication around COVID-19 and the Public Health England (PHE) COVID-19 disparities report (leading to reported increased racism and social isolation). Altruism was felt by all, in the resilience of NHS staff and their communities and families pulling together. Data, participants suggested actions, and the Behaviour Change Wheel informed suggested interventions and policies to help control COVID-19.

Conclusion

To maintain public trust, it is imperative that governmental bodies consider vulnerable groups, producing clear COVID-19 control guidance with contingency, fiscal, service provision and communication policies for the next rise in COVID-19 cases. This needs to be combined with public interventions including information, education, modelling and enablement of infection prevention through local community involvement and persuasion techniques or incentivisation. Government policy needs to review and include town and social planning leading to environmental restructuring that facilitates infection prevention control. This includes easy access to hand-washing facilities in homes, work, all food providers and shopping centres; toilet facilities as our Travellers mentioned, and adequate living accommodation and work environment facilitating IPC for all.

Strengths and limitations

This is amongst the largest qualitative studies on attitudes to the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK general public across ethnic groups, ages and religions, adding insights to previous smaller qualitative studies, from a broader range of participants.

The qualitative methodology allowed us to discuss participants’ responses around the COVID-19 pandemic, probing their answers to obtain detailed data to inform needs across ethnic groups.

Most data collection was undertaken in English and therefore excludes non-English speaking sectors of the population who may have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic differently.

We did not obtain the views of older members of the population over 70 years, who were most at risk.

The data reflect public perceptions six to nine months into the pandemic when some of the social distancing rules had been relaxed in England; as the pandemic progresses attitudes and needs may well change.