Affiliation:
1. Department of International Health, Center for Indigenous Health The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD
Abstract
ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDDespite historical and contemporary trauma, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN; Indigenous) communities responded with resilience to the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, AIANs experienced disproportionate rates of infection, hospitalization, death, and reduced life expectancy. School closures exacerbated disparities, leading to learning loss, economic instability, and mental health challenges among AIAN youth.METHODSThe Project SafeSchools cohort study employed a comprehensive longitudinal convergent mixed‐methods approach, integrating community‐based participatory research principles. The study enrolled Navajo Nation caregivers whose children were eligible to attend local reservation‐based schools. We conducted an analysis of caregiver self‐report baseline data collected between August 2021 and May 2022.RESULTSA total of 242 caregivers completed at least part of the baseline assessment and were included in data analysis. Caregivers were primarily female (88.7%), non‐Hispanic (97%), and Indigenous (97%). Most caregivers were in their late 30s (mean age 38), with varying educational backgrounds and employment statuses. Children were evenly split between males and females and distributed across different age groups. Most children attended school at baseline in various formats, including in‐person, hybrid, and online‐only settings. Caregivers reported a range of psychosocial and behavioral risks, including general mental distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety for themselves and their children. Furthermore, caregivers and children exhibited various protective factors, such as strong cultural identity, resilience, and academic self‐efficacy.CONCLUSIONSThis study highlights the higher rates of mental health distress among participating caregivers and children compared to national averages. Despite these challenges, cultural protective factors remained strong and should guide future crisis response efforts.
Reference64 articles.
1. Development and Dissemination of a Strengths-Based Indigenous Children's Storybook: “Our Smallest Warriors, Our Strongest Medicine: Overcoming COVID-19”
2. For the love of our children: an Indigenous connectedness framework
3. O'KeefeVM WallsML.Indigenous communities demonstrate innovation and strength despite unequal losses during COVID‐19. Brookings. April 2 2021. Available at:https://www.brookings.edu/blog/how‐we‐rise/2021/04/02/indigenous‐communities‐demonstrate‐innovation‐and‐strength‐despite‐unequal‐losses‐during‐covid‐19/. Accessed October 21 2022.
4. Indigenous Stories of Strength.Indigenous stories of strength. Available at:https://indigenousstrengths.com/. Accessed October 21 2022.