How We Feel: COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences Among Intergenerational Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans in San Francisco

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many social determinants of health and barriers to health care for Southeast Asian Americans. The objective of this study is to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Southeast Asian American communities’ health care utilization and need for support. This cross-sectional study administered surveys and conducted focus groups with 78 participants (>= 14 years) across generations and Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese ethnicity in partnership with the Southeast Asian Development Center in San Francisco, California between July and September 2021. We identified two themes in health care utilization: barriers to health care and fear of anti-Asian violence; two themes in COVID-19 prevention: utilization of COVID-19 services and COVID-19 safety precautions; and two themes in the role of community and community centers: intergenerational community and crucial services provided by community centers. Despite the challenges posed by the duality of the COVID-19 pandemic and fear of anti-Asian violence, Southeast Asian Americans persisted with resilience to seek health services with intergenerational support and the guidance of community centers. This highlights the significance of community-oriented health among Southeast Asian Americans and the value of community-led health interventions in advancing health for a historically underserved population.