Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Perceptions of Children's Use of COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors

Very few studies have examined perceptions of children's use of COVID-19 prevention behaviors during the pandemic and whether such perceptions varied by race-ethnicity. Using data from the COVID-19 in American Communities - 2 Survey collected between March and April 2022, this study examines race-ethnic disparities in perceptions of children's use of the various preventive behaviors recommended by the CDC during the pandemic. First, it used logistic regression models to examine disparities in perceptions of children's effective use of masking, social distancing, hand washing, and avoiding crowded places. Second, it used GLM models to examine disparities in perceptions of children's frequent use of multiple of these behaviors. Compared to Whites, Blacks had the highest odds of perceiving that children should maximize their use of masking, social distancing, and avoiding large groups. Asians also had higher odds of perceiving that children should avoid large crowds compared to Whites. Additionally, Blacks were the most likely to have positive perceptions of children's intense use of more than one of these behaviors. Perceptions of children's use of social distancing and avoiding large crowds were positively associated with having friends and families who died from COVID-19. Respondents in households with COVID-19 orphans were less likely to believe that children should maximize their use of hand washing avoiding large crowds, or using more than one preventive behavior compared to other respondents. The implications of these findings for policy and practice are discussed.