Publications by authors named "Lorenzo Garza"

While COVID-19 immunizations can improve outcomes from SARS-CoV-2, vaccine rates in the United States have been lowest among children under age 11 and among rural agricultural communities. This study examined factors influencing pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake among rural agricultural and predominantly Hispanic communities in Washington State. We conducted in-depth interviews with school district employees and students and held English and Spanish focus group discussions with parents, all of which were audio-recorded and transcribed.

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Purpose: Native Americans and Latinos have higher COVID-19 infection and mortality rates and may have limited access to diagnostic testing. Home-based testing may improve access to care in rural and underserved populations. This study tests the effect of community health worker (CHW) support on accessibility, feasibility, and completion of COVID-19 home testing among Native American and Latino adults living on the Flathead Reservation in Montana and in Yakima Valley, Washington.

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Article Synopsis
  • ROSSEY is a project in Yakima County to create and test a program that helps kids and families understand COVID-19 risks and keep them safe as they return to school.
  • The project will talk to students, parents, and teachers to find out what they need to stay safe and will check how well the communication works for school attendance.
  • The goal is to educate everyone about COVID-19 testing and vaccines so that schools can help students learn safely in person.
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Objective: To examine factors influencing decisions to test for COVID-19 among Native Americans on the Flathead Reservation in Montana and the Latino community in the Yakima Valley of Washington state.

Methods: We conducted 30 key informant interviews with community leaders and six focus groups with community members to examine factors impacting decisions to test for COVID-19 during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic from May 2021 to June 2021.

Results: Three major themes that impacted testing for COVID-19 were identified: (1) Social factors, including the influence of families and friends and employment practices; (2) health factors, including testing procedures, home-based testing, and health communication; and (3) contextual factors, including distrust for government and medical communities and the impact on cultural practices and celebrations.

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Introduction: School-based COVID-19 testing may be an effective strategy for reducing transmission in schools and keeping schools open. The study objective was to examine community perspectives on school-based COVID-19 testing as a mitigation strategy to support safe school reopening.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study in Yakima County, an agricultural region of Washington state, where over half of residents are Hispanic/Latino.

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Background: Home-based testing for COVID-19 has potential to reduce existing health care disparities among underserved populations in the United States. However, implementation of home-based tests in these communities may face significant barriers. This study evaluates the acceptability, feasibility, and success of home-based testing and the potential added benefit of active support from trusted community health workers for Native Americans and Hispanic/Latino adults living in rural Montana and Washington states.

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Primary anorectal melanoma is rare. There is controversy regarding the best surgical treatment because of its poor prognosis. Three cases with extended follow-up are reported in this article.

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