Parents’ Perceptions of Schools’ COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies: A Phenomenological Study

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Sch Health
• Personal Author:
  Dinh, Janny ; Edwards, Lorece V. ; Calderon, Gabriela ; Klein, Lauren M. ; Wang, June ; Marrero, Natalie ; Johnson, Sara B. ; Hager, Erin R.
• Description:
  BACKGROUND
  
  At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools closed across the U.S. Given the impact of virtual learning and lost access to school resources, schools eventually reopened with COVID-19 mitigation protocols in place. This qualitative study sought to understand parental perceptions of school-based COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
  
  METHODS
  
  Using a phenomenology approach, nine focus groups were completed with 40 parents of children in grades K-8 representing eight Maryland counties. Based on acceptance of masking policies (as indicated on a survey), parents were sorted into two groups – lower and higher masking acceptance. A thematic analysis was conducted for each group and themes were compared between the two groups.
  
  RESULTS
  
  The main themes were related to parents’ general sentiments regarding COVID-19, compliance, pandemic-related changes over time, changes in personal opinions, and in-person learning. Both groups described challenges related to inconsistent COVID-19 mitigation policies and practices, the challenges of rapid and frequent changes in guidelines during the pandemic, and the benefits of in-person learning.
  
  IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY
  
  Study findings may help to inform future efforts to implement public health messaging and strategies through schools.
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  
  Parents of elementary and middle school children, regardless of general acceptance of masking policies, shared concerns about implementation and guidance regarding school-based mitigation strategies.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Child COVID-19 Female Focus Groups Humans Male Maryland Masks Parents Qualitative Research SARS-CoV-2 Schools

  More +
• Keywords:
  Health Communication Health Policy Mitigation Strategies Parents School Health
• Source:
  J Sch Health. 94(9):791-799
• Pubmed ID:
  38936963
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11323178
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/ ; OT2 HD108110/HD/NICHD NIH HHSUnited States/ ; CD/ODCDC CDC HHSUnited States/ ; #OT2HD108110/RADx-UP Return to School Diagnostic Testing Approaches/ ; NH/NIH HHSUnited States/ ; NH/NIH HHSUnited States/ ; CD/ODCDC CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  94
• Issue:
  9
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:42fbadb183a20796ec3e3648ae9cdf7ed49c70e4bc8e1f34b81683d7bb4c0429514bcec3d8a22dd9a5e17de7a2b668348c8a8106a013d508135118fa61ea23f7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/159849/cdc_159849_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 332.72 KB ]