■南亚人,包括来自印度的个人,巴基斯坦,马尔代夫,孟加拉国,斯里兰卡,不丹,尼泊尔,包括世界上最大的侨民,居住在加勒比海的大量南亚社区,非洲,欧洲,和其他地方。有证据表明,南亚社区经历了不成比例的COVID-19感染和死亡。WhatsApp,一个免费的消息应用程序,广泛用于南亚侨民的跨国交流。关于WhatsApp上南亚社区特有的与COVID-19相关的错误信息的研究有限。了解WhatsApp上的沟通可能会改善公共卫生信息,以解决全球南亚社区之间的COVID-19差异。
我们开发了与COVID-19相关的消息传递应用程序(CAROM)研究,以识别通过WhatsApp共享的包含有关COVID-19的错误信息的消息。
■我们收集了2021年3月23日至6月3日之间通过WhatsApp在全球范围内转发的来自南亚社区成员的消息。我们排除了英语以外语言的邮件,不包含错误信息,或与COVID-19无关。我们取消了每条消息的标识,并将其编码为一个或多个内容类别,媒体类型(例如,视频,image,文本,Web链接,或这些元素的组合),和音调(例如,恐惧,善意的,或恳求)。然后,我们进行了定性内容分析,以得出COVID-19错误信息的关键主题。
■我们收到了108条消息;55条消息符合最终分析样本的纳入标准;32条(58%)包含文本,15(27%)包含图像,和13(24%)包含视频。内容分析揭示了以下主题:“社区传播”与COVID-19如何在社区传播的错误信息有关;“预防”和“治疗”,包括阿育吠陀和如何预防或治疗COVID-19感染的传统疗法;以及试图出售“产品或服务”以预防或治愈COVID-19的信息。从普通大众到南亚人,听众的信息各不相同;后者包括暗示南亚自豪感和团结的信息。包括科学术语和对主要组织和医疗保健领导人的引用,以提供信誉。带有恳求语气的消息鼓励用户将其转发给朋友或家人。
■WhatsApp上南亚社区的错误信息传播了有关疾病传播的错误观念,预防,和治疗。内容唤起团结,“值得信赖”来源,鼓励转发信息可能会增加错误信息的传播。公共卫生机构和社交媒体公司必须积极打击错误信息,以解决在COVID-19大流行期间和未来突发公共卫生事件中南亚侨民之间的健康差距。
UNASSIGNED: South Asians, inclusive of individuals originating in India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal, comprise the largest diaspora in the world, with large South Asian communities residing in the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and elsewhere. There is evidence that South Asian communities have disproportionately experienced COVID-19 infections and mortality. WhatsApp, a free messaging app, is widely used in transnational communication within the South Asian diaspora. Limited studies exist on COVID-19-related misinformation specific to the South Asian community on WhatsApp. Understanding communication on WhatsApp may improve public health messaging to address COVID-19 disparities among South Asian communities worldwide.
UNASSIGNED: We developed the COVID-19-Associated misinfoRmation On Messaging apps (CAROM)
study to identify messages containing misinformation about COVID-19 shared via WhatsApp.
UNASSIGNED: We collected messages forwarded globally through WhatsApp from self-identified South Asian community members between March 23 and June 3, 2021. We excluded messages that were in languages other than English, did not contain misinformation, or were not relevant to COVID-19. We deidentified each message and coded them for one or more content categories, media types (eg, video, image, text, web link, or a combination of these elements), and tone (eg, fearful, well intentioned, or pleading). We then performed a qualitative content analysis to arrive at key themes of COVID-19 misinformation.
UNASSIGNED: We received 108 messages; 55 messages met the inclusion criteria for the final analytic sample; 32 (58%) contained text, 15 (27%) contained images, and 13 (24%) contained video. Content analysis revealed the following themes: \"community transmission\" relating to misinformation on how COVID-19 spreads in the community; \"prevention\" and \"treatment,\" including Ayurvedic and traditional remedies for how to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection; and messaging attempting to sell \"products or services\" to prevent or cure COVID-19. Messages varied in audience from the general public to South Asians specifically; the latter included messages alluding to South Asian pride and solidarity. Scientific jargon and references to major organizations and leaders in health care were included to provide credibility. Messages with a pleading tone encouraged users to forward them to friends or family.
UNASSIGNED: Misinformation in the South Asian community on WhatsApp spreads erroneous ideas regarding disease transmission, prevention, and treatment. Content evoking solidarity, \"trustworthy\" sources, and encouragement to forward messages may increase the spread of misinformation. Public health outlets and social media companies must actively combat misinformation to address health disparities among the South Asian diaspora during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future public health emergencies.