Research by FSPH's UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, led by Dr. Ninez Ponce, Fielding School professor of health policy and management, found that Californians have varied their COVID-19 risk reduction based on their test results
The survey team’s final CHIS Preliminary COVID-19 Estimates Dashboard update of the year adds data from August 2021, which included responses from 3,124 Californians. There was a total of 20,724 respondents in the 2021 data shared from March through August. The data show that California adults who said they had ever received a positive COVID-19 test result were more likely to engage in risk reduction behaviors such as wearing face coverings and avoiding gathering with members outside of their household. Additionally, people who had not received the vaccine, but were planning to, were also more likely to follow safety guidelines than people who said they would not get the vaccine and individuals who already received the vaccine.
“Even the slightest risk reduction behavior changes are important because they are part of several factors that contribute to the spread of COVID-19 and can support evidence for policies such as vaccine mandates or proof of vaccination, or getting tested regularly and ensuring a negative result prior to entering a public establishment,” said Ponce, who also serves as CHIS' principal investigator. “As the state begins to enforce different mandates, we will continue to provide actionable data that policymakers, community organizations, public health officials, and other stakeholders can use to guide the state’s recovery plan.”
Key findings from the August 2021 data include:
Risk Reduction Behaviors
California adults varied in their risk reduction behaviors based on their test result status.
California adults not planning to get vaccinated reported higher levels of engaging in risk reduction behaviors.
Californians reported wearing their face coverings less from March through August.
Personal and Financial Impacts
Nearly 1 in 8 (12.1%) California adults said they lost their jobs during the pandemic.
More than 1 in 7 (13.7%) California adults had difficulties paying for basic necessities in August 2021.
“It has been alarming to consistently see the personal and financial impacts of the pandemic on Californians, hitting the already at-risk communities the hardest,” said Todd Hughes, CHIS director. “We look forward to releasing the entire 2021 dataset in Fall 2022 and hope that the dashboard will continue to be useful in identifying groups who are most in need of assistance.”
Note: The California Health Interview Survey Preliminary COVID-19 Estimates Dashboard can be filtered by a range of sociodemographic factors such as age, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment, as well as other health indicators and risk factors. The California Health Interview Survey, the nation’s largest state health survey, covers numerous categories, including general health status, health conditions, neighborhood and housing, health insurance, child care, employment, income, and other measures, such as race and ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, and citizenship.
by Elaiza Torralba
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, founded in 1961, is dedicated to enhancing the public's health by conducting innovative research, training future leaders and health professionals from diverse backgrounds, translating research into policy and practice, and serving our local communities and the communities of the nation and the world. The school has 761 students from 26 nations engaged in carrying out the vision of building healthy futures in greater Los Angeles, California, the nation and the world.