Special issue: REFORM Cafe: conversation as action at a historically Black college and university

Purpose The purpose of this study is to share the experience of delivering a culturally responsive teaching program, the R.E.F.O.R.M. Cafe, at a historically Black college and university. The R.E.F.O.R.M. Cafe provided an opportunity for undergraduate students to participate in dialogue that reinforces the need for social justice in preserving Black lives. Before participating in the R.E.F.O.R.M. Cafe, lectures using a critical perspective to connect health to the history of the modern-day civil rights movement were conducted. Design/methodology/approach Using the World Cafe as a model, a qualitative methodology was used to implement the R.E.F.O.R.M. Cafe as part of community health education course curriculum to address health disparities plaguing Black communities. The breakout room function in Zoom was used to substitute for the tables used in traditional World Cafes because of COVID-19 restrictions, which allowed for small, focus-group-like dialogues to occur. Findings The R.E.F.O.R.M. Cafe challenged students to consider the power and opportunity for individuals on the front line to contest racial disparities. Students indicated the R.E.F.O.R.M. Cafe reinforced the importance of meaningful conversations, the connection to confronting health disparities and the effectiveness of program design and implementation to engage in dialogue around issues of race and equity. Students indicated the importance of hearing the perspective of peers when considering their personal identities as change agents. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature that extends the body of knowledge related to implementing culturally responsive teaching programs at a historically Black college and university. Studies currently available related to implementing culturally responsive teaching programs among undergraduate students do not focus specifically on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Perceived Vaccine Efficacy, Willingness to Pay for COVID-19 Vaccine and Associated Determinants among Foreign Migrants in China

Objectives: The COVID-19 public health crisis has increased the global burden of diseases and mortality. Hence, global vaccination becomes non-negotiable to support immunity to reduce morbidity and mortality burdens. The COVID-19 vaccine campaign hinges on health promotion and equitable distribution, especially among minority groups. Therefore, the current study investigated the determinants of perceived vaccine efficacy and willingness to pay among foreign migrants in China. Methods: The study appraised data from an online-based survey carried out among foreign migrants in mainland China through the WeChat platform. Data analysis was carried out through bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 498 foreign migrants were recruited, with male 47.65%, female 45.2%, and other gender minority groups (7.15%). The study found that females, gender minorities, students, preference for alternative medicine, culture neutrality, belief against vaccination, and prefer free vaccination were less likely to pay for COVID-19 vaccination. Meanwhile, those whose families/relatives are opposed to vaccination and have good subjective health than others in their age group were less likely to believe in vaccine efficacy. Those who have received at least a dose of COVI D-19 vaccine (AoR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.94-5.58, p<0.001), believe vaccines are accessible (AoR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.52-3.98, p<0.001) and have high perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 (AoR: 1.97,95% CI: 1.18-3.28, p<0.01) were more likely to believe in vaccine efficacy. Conclusion: The research extends evidence on vaccination behavior among foreign migrant groups. Vaccination support among migrants should target indicators like culture, gender identity, psychological health, subjective health, and perceived severity to eradicate vaccine hesitancy and misinformation that can translate to increased vaccine participation among minority groups.

Oncology and COVID-19: Perspectives on cancer patients and oncologists in Africa.

The global communities have been grappling with health pandemics for months since the outbreak of COVID-19, which has been flagged a global health emergency by World Health Organisation, WHO. While the entire health sector has been overburdened, cancer patients are also at a high risk of getting infected during this COVID-19 pandemic; hence, there is a great concern for these patients because there is little to no data to support their management with the current health care structure in Africa. This article outlines the challenges that frontline health workers face in the management of cancer patients, as the entire health sector calls for effective policy formulation and implementation by the government in their role in ensuring the sound health of their citizenry.

Les communautés mondiales sont aux prises avec des pandémies de santé depuis des mois, depuis l'apparition du COVID-19, qui a été signalé comme une urgence sanitaire mondiale par l'Organisation mondiale de la santé. Alors que l'ensemble du secteur de la santé a été surchargé, les patients atteints de cancer courent également un risque élevé d'être infectés pendant cette pandémie de COVID-19, d'où une grande inquiétude pour ces patients, car il n'existe que peu ou pas de données pour soutenir leur prise en charge avec la structure actuelle des soins de santé en Afrique. Cet article décrit les défis auxquels sont confrontés les travailleurs de la santé de première ligne dans la prise en charge des patients cancéreux, car l'ensemble du secteur de la santé exige une formulation et une mise en œuvre efficaces des politiques par le gouvernement dans son rôle de garant de la bonne santé de ses citoyens.