Covid Advice Less Trusted By BAME People Due To Perceptions Of Institutional Racism, Sage Warns
Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in Britain may be less likely to trust government coronavirus health advice than white people due to “perceptions of institutional racism”, official science advice warns.
The government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) found that BAME people may actively resist Covid-19 guidance because they do not trust the government due to “historical issues”.
The findings by Sage’s behavioural science unit SPI-B came in response to data showing BAME people are more likely to die from coronavirus than white people.
And it comes amid concerns about coronavirus hotspots in areas where BAME people are at increased risk of infection, potentially due to the presence of more large, intergenerational households and the fact that many are employed in frontline roles.
The scientists urged the government to promote culturally specific health messages for BAME communities and to use people who are “known and trusted” to them.
In a paper titled Public Health Messaging for Communities from Different Cultural Backgrounds, written in July but published on Friday, they said: “During a pandemic, many racial and ethnic minority communities may be less willing to trust government communications on pandemic measures due to historical issues and contemporary perceptions of institutional racism.
“Mistrust of government and authorities may result in active resistance to risk communication particularly when messages are perceived as authoritarian from sources that are not trusted.”
The report added: “Health messages are more likely to be received by someone known and trusted within BAME communities.
“These include faith groups, community leaders and lay health educators such as shop workers and taxi drivers.”
NHS Test and Trace must also ensure it transmits messages effectively to communities as terms like...
