COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation: experiences of Diné families of children with asthma

Abstract

Objective

The first case of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation (NN) was found on March 17, 2020. Even with strong public health efforts, NN saw the highest per capita infection rate in the US during May of 2020 with 2450/100,000. To determine the impact of COVID-19 on families of children with asthma on the NN, families participating in the NHLBI funded Community Asthma Program were contacted to see if they would share their experiences.

Methods

Sixty-six of 193 families (34%) were interviewed.

Results: The average age of the child with asthma was 13.5 (SD = 3.9) and 33% were female. Most Diné children with asthma in our study did not contract COVID-19. However, the pandemic had a significant impact on them and their families. Many family members contracted COVID-19, some children lost family members, and half of interviewed parents reported a decline in their child’s mental health. Twenty-five percent of families sought the help of a traditional healer. Many accessed medical care through telehealth and most were able to obtain asthma medications when needed.

Conclusions: Despite significant challenges, our research indicated resilience among Navajo families.

Keywords:

• Control/management
• management/control
• pediatrics
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

With great gratitude we acknowledge the following Navajo Nation partners: NNHRRB (for review and approval of the study and manuscript); The Tuba City Unified School District, The Chinle Unified School District, the Window Rock Unified School District, The Tuba City Boarding School, Tuba City Regional Health Care Center, Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility, Tséhootsooí Medical Center, and the Navajo Community Health Representative Program (for assistance in implementation of the program); Tuba City CAP Advisory Board, Chinle CAP Advisory Board, and Window Rock CAP Advisory Board (for input on study design, data collection and data interpretation); and Stevick Jim, Chantel Jones, Alec Lee, and Chambreigh Curley (for assistance with program implementation and data collection).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the National Institutes of Health.