Addressing COVID-19 and Health Literacy Disparities Among Correctional Facility Residents Through Dialogue-Based...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Correctional Health

Background:

• Carceral communities face significant COVID-19 risks, compounded by medical mistrust and limited health access.
• Participatory, dialogue-based learning models are effective for health education in carceral settings.
• Existing health literacy and behavior interventions in jails are insufficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance health literacy and promote COVID-19 preventive behaviors among US jail residents.
• To evaluate the impact of a dialogue-based health education program on medical mistrust and health behaviors.
• To address misinformation and improve navigation of healthcare systems within carceral environments.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of an in-person, dialogue-based COVID-19 education program in a county jail.
• Facilitation of 43 discussions involving 595 jail residents.
• Pre- and post-surveys to assess changes in self-reported health literacy and behavioral intentions.

Main Results:

• Dialogue-based education demonstrated a positive influence on COVID-19 preventive behaviors.
• Participants showed increased health literacy following the program.
• The program contributed to tempering medical mistrust within the carceral setting.

Conclusions:

• Dialogue-based health education is an effective strategy for improving health literacy and behaviors in carceral settings.
• This educational model can mitigate medical mistrust among incarcerated populations.
• Interventions addressing COVID-19 prevention, misinformation, and healthcare navigation are crucial for jail residents.