Inequalities in Covid-19 Messaging: A Systematic Scoping Review

Erika Kalocsányiová · Ryan Essex · Vanessa Fortune

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Communication and COVID-19 Impact Public Relations and Crisis Communication Risk Perception and Management

Abstract

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been widely documented. While deaths are now in the millions and many more have been impacted in other ways, the impact of Covid-19 has not been felt equally, with it exacerbating existing inequalities and disproportionately impacting a number of populations. With this Covid-19 has created unprecedented challenges in relation to health communication, with the need to reach disadvantaged populations. This systematic scoping review sought to 1) synthesize the existing research regarding communication inequalities in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and 2) analyze the recommendations that emerge from this body of evidence on how to best address these inequalities. This review includes 40 studies that fell into three broad groups (1) those revealing a disadvantage or inequality in studies of general population; (2) those focussing on communication with sub-groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic; and (3) those reporting and evaluating practical attempts to address inequalities. The results largely corroborate those found in past pandemics, highlighting the role of sociodemographic, cultural/religious, and economic factors in facilitating/jeopardizing the public's capacity to access and act upon public health messaging. In a number of studies it was encouraging to see recommendations from the literature - particularly, lessons learnt on the importance of community partnerships, trusted messengers and the co-creation of health and risk messages - being applied, however many challenges remain unmet. Covid-19 has also highlighted the need to actively tackle misinformation, something which was recognized, but largely unaddressed.

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References

2021The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews 2005Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework 2009Effective Health Risk Communication About Pandemic Influenza for Vulnerable Populations 2014What have we learned about communication inequalities during the H1N1 pandemic: a systematic review of the literature 2013Communications in Public Health Emergency Preparedness: A Systematic Review of the Literature 2020Comparison of Knowledge and Information-Seeking Behavior After General COVID-19 Public Health Messages and Messages Tailored for Black and Latinx Communities 2020We Need the Lens of Equity in COVID-19 Communication 2020An Investigation of Low COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions among Black Americans: The Role of Behavioral Beliefs and Trust in COVID-19 Information Sources

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2023Communication and engagement of community members from ethnic minorities during COVID-19: a scoping review 2025Building trust and equity in vaccine communication through community engagement 2022Parental Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Its Association With Information Sufficiency and Credibility in South Korea 2025An agenda for science communication research and practice

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