COVID-19 Testing Factors Among Great Plains American Indians

COVID-19 created unparalleled challenges for vulnerable communities, especially among American Indians and Alaska Natives. An effective COVID-19 response requires a tribally driven effort to understand the perspectives of Tribal members on testing and to ensure that delivery strategies are grounded in the cultural values, traditions, and experiences of the Tribes.

We conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous survey in October 2021 using established methods to reach Tribal members residing in three Reservations in the Great Plains (N = 679). Multivariate analyses were conducted using logistic regression to assess the association between independent variables and COVID-19 testing uptake after adjusting for confounding.

After multivariate adjustment, a respondent's employment status, ability to isolate if diagnosed with COVID-19, and endorsing that COVID-19 testing is only needed if one has symptoms were significantly correlated with having been previously tested for COVID-19. Participants without a full-time job were about half as likely to have been tested for COVID-19 compared to those with full-time jobs. Participants who reported not being able to isolate if they tested positive for COVID-19 and participants who did not think testing was needed if asymptomatic were also half as likely to be tested.

Ensuring that everyone has the ability to isolate, that people who are not working have easy access to testing, and that everyone understands the value of testing after exposure are key steps to maximizing testing uptake. Efforts will only be successful if there is continued investment in programs that provide free testing access for everyone on Reservations.