COVID-19 vaccination rates have increased since distribution began in December 2020. However, in some states, such as South Carolina, getting people to take the vaccine has been challenging; as of spring 2022, slightly less than 60% of the total population is fully vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans may be explained by several factors, including lack of confidence in the medical establishment and vaccines in particular. Faith-based leaders, such as pastors, can make a difference. This study explores the communication strategies that pastors in predominantly Black churches use to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among churchgoers and the surrounding community. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 pastors in South Carolina. The main themes that emerged are: (1) using various communication channels to ensure access; (2) representing a trusted source of information; (3) offering a role model for vaccination—leading by example; and (4) strengthening the commitment to health. As the need for COVID-19 vaccination continues, including booster vaccines, pastors can provide accurate information and community outreach to promote the health of Black communities.

An understanding of genetics is becoming increasingly relevant to receiving medical care. It is important for health care providers and educators, including genetic counselors, to understand patients’ perceptions about trait transmission and their interpretation of terms used in biomedicine. Knowledge about the patient perspective about trait transmission is important when health care providers are not fluent in the patient's language. Sixty Latinx immigrant adults (30 men and 30 women) who were born in Mexico or Central America (MCA) and living in North Carolina were interviewed about their heredity beliefs. By design, most participants had limited education. Eight percent had a least a high school education; 45% had less than a seventh grade education. Semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted to examine how participants think and discuss trait transmission. The translated transcripts were systematically analyzed using a case‐based approach, supplemented by theme‐based coding. Five lay mental models of heredity were identified that varied in terms of involvement of genes. Four of the five heredity mental models encompass genes; four out of five mental models do not link DNA to heredity. The centrality of blood, whether used metaphorically or literally, varies widely across the models. One model references God and depicts that heredity involves blood and/or genes, but not DNA. The mental models of heredity for most adult immigrants with limited education do not include DNA. Trait transmission by blood appears to have a more prominent role in lay mental models held by Mexicans than Central Americans. Increased patient knowledge about genetics can facilitate shared decision‐making as genetics becomes increasingly relevant to medical care. Efforts to educate people can be most effective when we first understand the layperson's conceptions or mental models. Health care providers and educators should be aware that MCA adults with limited formal education hold diverse mental models about heredity.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many minority communities tried different strategies to increase their members’ vaccination rates. This study uses diffusion of innovations theory [1] with a focus on “the sequence of change agent roles” to explore Black pastors’ approach to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Ten semi-structured interviews gauged how Black pastors understood their role in increasing vaccine use in their communities. Seven themes emerged from analysis: creating awareness of change; establishing a connection; seeking to understand; encouraging the new behavior; leveraging the power of interpersonal communication; maintaining support; and providing future assistance. Results im-ply that by continuing to work with healthcare providers, Black pastors can help to in-crease awareness about annual COVID-19 boosters among their church members and in surrounding communities.

Church leaders have used scripture to encourage congregants to reflect on their health choices. Still, this study focuses on Black pastors who used other approaches to prompt awareness about COVID-19 and vaccination. The purpose of the study is to explore how Black posters use medical information and scripture to discuss COVID-19 vaccination within the communities they serve. This study uses a phenomenological design; ten Black pastors in South Carolina were recruited through snowball sampling to learn about their information dissemination practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study describes their rhetoric, foregrounding medical facts and supporting them with biblical passages. The pastors who participated in semi-structured interviews presented scientific information to the church community and encouraged members to "follow the science.” Two central themes emerged from the study: 1) Stand by the science to educate the Black community about COVID-19 vaccines, and 2) Balancing science and scripture to reinforce positive COVID-19 vaccine messaging. The study's implication demonstrates how Black pastors are instrumental in providing a narrative of factual health information in a spiritual setting.

Some church leaders work to increase HIV testing and spread messages to reduce stigma. This study focuses on how leaders of North Carolina churches considered welcoming and affirming by the LGBTQ+ community discuss and disseminate information about HIV/AIDS to church members and communities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six leaders of different denominations between April and May 2023. A thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews found three main approaches: 1) HIV is not addressed directly, but we are here; 2) provide access to educational resources; and 3) fight stigma. Results confirm welcoming/affirming churches could play a significant role in, not only educating their communities about HIV, but also reducing the stigma associated with the disease.