USF College of Public Health’s Dr. Arlene Calvo, associate professor, has participated in a series of focus groups talking with inner city youth in Panama to develop more appropriate public health messages in the context of COVID-19.

This initiative, convened by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO-WHO) PAHO-WHO, is led by the Ministry of Health Panama (MINSA) Department of Health Promotion San Miguelito Health Region and Calvo will support data analysis to help generate the health messages on behalf of the COPH’s Panama Program and Salud Latina USF.

As part of the initiative for the implementation of the “Guide for the adoption of non-pharmacological Public Health measures in population groups in vulnerable situations in the context of Covid-19,” MINSA held a series of focus groups in the San Miguelito inner city health region.

“The objectives of this initiative include identifying knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the intended audience in relation to the adaptation of non-pharmacological public health measures and vaccination in the context of COVID-19,” Calvo said. “We also aim to establish effective communication interventions that allow a constructive dialogue with young people between 12 and 18 years of age, in relation to the adaptation of measures in the context of COVID.”

The ongoing initiative also aims to develop messages intended for young audiences between the ages of 12 and 18 years in high-density urban areas on public health measures in the context of COVID-19 in a friendly and suitable environment for young people.

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Story by Dr. Arlene Calvo, USF College of Public Health