Care-seeking correlates of acute respiratory illness among sheltered adults experiencing homelessness in Seattle, WA, 2019: a community-based cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Multifarious barriers to accessing healthcare services among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) lead to delays in seeking care for acute infections, including those caused by respiratory viruses. PEH are at high risk of acute respiratory illness (ARI)-related complications, especially in shelter settings that may facilitate virus spread, yet data characterizing healthcare utilization for ARI episodes among sheltered PEH remained limited.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of viral respiratory infection among adult residents at two homeless shelters in Seattle, Washington between January and May 2019. We assessed factors associated with seeking medical care for ARI via self-report. We collected illness questionnaires and nasal swabs were tested for res

SUBMITTER: Rogers JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10319010 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature