Mixed Messages and COVID-19 Prevention: Why Information Is Not Always Enough to Protect Meat Processing Workers

Abstract

The objective of this project was to investigate U.S. meat and poultry processing workers' knowledge of COVID-19, perceived ability to protect themselves from infection, and perspectives on COVID-19 vaccines to inform COVID-19 prevention efforts within this linguistically, racially, and ethnically diverse workforce. Qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with Mexican, Central American, Congolese refugee, and Black or African American meat/poultry processing workers from Mississippi, Minnesota, Virginia, and Kentucky (N=40). Data were collected from December 5, 2020, to January 28, 2021. Interview audio was transcribed, and rapid qualitative data analysis was used to analyze transcripts. Most participants expressed receiving mixed messages about COVID-19 protection measures: they were told how to protect themselves (n=38), but workplace policies (such as lack of paid sick leave) often undermined their efforts. Participants who were asked about COVID-19 vaccines (n=31) were aware there were one or more vaccines available to protect them from COVID-19; one-third were eager to get vaccinated. Community-based efforts may consider supplementing large scale unified information campaigns in order to prevent mixed messages, address worker needs to accurately gauge the threat of illness to their families and communities and empower them to prevent infection.