The pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism have a deleterious impact on the daily life experiences and health for populations of color. The experiences are compounded for immigrant/refugee communities that may have other barriers such as English language literacy or trauma. Cumulative stress due to everyday racism is harmful for health. This study describes the impact of day-to-day lived experiences of Karen, Somali, and Latinx communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. In-depth interviews were conducted over three weeks in September and October 2020 to understand the daily life experiences of Karen, Somali and Latinx adults drawn from community contacts during the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd. Interviewers were bilingual and from the communities they interviewed. Nine questions were asked, ranging from their knowledge of COVID-19, prevention practices, experiences during shelter-in-place, and the perceptions of the police murder of George Floyd. Qualitative analysis included transcript review, coding facilitated by Atlas.ti Cloud software, summaries, and validation by interviewers. Thirty-two adults were interviewed (Latinx = 10, Karen = 10, Somali = 12). One-third were in person per participant request and complying with COVID-19 precautions, and the remainder were remote. The average age recorded was 37 years (range 20–66 years), 43.8% males and 56.3% females. Respondents reported experiences of discrimination and systemic racism while engaging in daily life activities, including accessing foods and common goods, school, work, transportation, and healthcare, all of which were exacerbated by COVID-19 and the police murder of George Floyd. Immigrant/refugee communities of color in Minneapolis/St. Paul face daily experiences of racism that were compounded by the events of 2020. Discrimination and systemic racism contribute to the persistent health inequities among populations of color.

Introduction: Côte d'Ivoire has one of the worst HIV/AIDS epidemics in West Africa. This study sought to understand how HIV‐positive women's life circumstances and interactions with the public health care system in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, influence their self‐reported ability to adhere to antiretroviral prophylaxis during pregnancy.Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 HIV‐positive women not eligible for antiretroviral therapy and five health care workers recruited from four public clinics in which prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission services had been integrated into routine antenatal care.Results: Self‐reported adherence to prophylaxis is high, but women struggle to observe (outdated) guidelines for rapid infant weaning. Women's positive interactions with health providers, their motivation to protect their infants and the availability of free antiretrovirals seem to override most potential barriers to prophylaxis adherence.Conclusions: This study reveals the importance of considering the full continuum of prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission interventions, including infant feeding, instead of focussing primarily on prophylaxis for the mother and newborn.

This study examines the pervasive and multifaceted nature of racism, police violence, and law enforcement mistrust among immigrant and refugee communities in the Twin Cities, with a focus on the Latinx, Somali, and Karen populations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 participants to understand their lived experiences. There were three key findings about the immigrant population’s perceptions and experiences, including experiences of racism, feelings of insecurity, and mistrust toward police. Participants from all three ethnic groups reported experiences of racism and expressed concerns about their safety explicitly related to their race. The findings reveal both shared experiences and unique challenges across the Latinx, Somali, and Karen communities, highlighting the intersection of race, immigration status, and systemic racism in shaping their perceptions of safety and law enforcement. While all three groups expressed fear, mistrust, and a desire for systemic change following the murder of George Floyd, the nuances of their experiences reflect the distinct ways in which racism and police violence manifest in their lives. These findings underscore the urgent need for addressing systemic racism and implementing measures to ensure the safety and well-being of immigrant communities.