COVID-Associated Misinformation Across the South Asian Diaspora: A Qualitative Study of WhatsApp Messages (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.38607
• Publication Date: 2022-05-03T18:33:21Z
• Authors: Anjana E. Sharma; Kiran Khosla; Kameswari Potharaju; Arnab Mukherjea; Urmimala Sarkar
• Keywords: Misinformation; Diaspora

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> South Asians, inclusive of individuals originating in India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal, comprise the largest diaspora world with large Asian communities residing Caribbean, Africa, Europe, elsewhere. There is evidence that have disproportionately experienced COVID-19 infections mortality. WhatsApp, a free messaging application, widely used transnational communication within diaspora. Limited studies exist on COVID-related misinformation specific to community WhatsApp. Understanding WhatsApp may improve public health address disparities among worldwide. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> We developed COVID-Associated misinfoRmation On Messaging (CAROM) Apps Study identify messages containing about shared via <title>METHODS</title> collected forwarded through from self-identified members globally between March 23 June 3, 2021. excluded were languages other than English did not contain misinformation, or relevant COVID-19. de-identified each message coded them for one more content categories, media types (video, image, text, web link, combination these elements) tone (e.g. fearful, well-intentioned, pleading, etc.). then performed qualitative analysis arrive at key themes COVID misinformation. <title>RESULTS</title> received 108 messages; 55 met inclusion criteria final analytic sample. 32 (58.2%) contained 15 (27.3%) images, 13 (23.6%) video. Content revealed following themes: ‘community transmission’ relating how spreads community; ‘prevention’ ‘treatment,’ including Ayurvedic traditional remedies prevent treat infection; attempting sell ‘product/services’ cure Messages varied audience general Asians specifically; latter included alluding pride solidarity. Scientific jargon references major organizations leaders healthcare provide credibility. pleading encouraged users forward friends family. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Misinformation erroneous ideas regarding disease transmission, prevention, treatment. evoking solidarity, “trustworthy” sources, encouragement increase spread. Public outlets social companies must actively combat during pandemic future emergencies. <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> This study was approved by Internal Review Board University California, San Francisco (IRB # 20-32758).