ABSTRACT

Underpinned by the notion that communication equality is crucial in developing communication infrastructures for health and well-being, this study explores experiences of COVID-19 information retrieving in a low-income suburban area in Aotearoa from a culture-centered lens. Drawing from in-depth interviews with ethnic minority residents, we reveal two polarizing experiences: at one end, residents were confident in the government’s representation of COVID-19 but also fearful and anxious, while at the other end, residents were skeptical of formal institutions and expressed alternative views about COVID-19. The findings illuminate how community distrust is intertwined with communication inequality, which can further entrench and magnify health inequality, informing key recommendations for culturally centering pandemic communications and creating infrastructures to challenge disinformation.

摘要

本研究以通信平等对于发展健康和福祉通信基础设施至关重要这一理念为基础，从以文化为中心的角度探讨了新西兰低收入郊区的 COVID-19 信息检索经验。通过对少数民族居民的深入访谈，我们揭示了两种两极分化的经历：一方面，居民对政府对 COVID-19 的表现充满信心，但也感到恐惧和焦虑；另一方面，居民对正规机构持怀疑态度并对 COVID-19 表达了不同的看法。研究结果揭示了社区不信任如何与沟通不平等交织在一起，这可能进一步巩固和扩大健康不平等，