The Sitka Sound Science Center has partnered with the Central Council of Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes, the RAND Corporation, and the University of Alaska Southeast to study people’s perceptions of COVID-19. Geographically isolated with limited medical facilities, communities in our region are suffering in unique ways. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this project uses surveys to determine community members’ attitudes towards the pandemic and captures vital information needed for community response.

This study has three parts: a survey conducted early during the pandemic before the virus came into smaller towns; a follow-up survey to understand how attitudes changed as we accommodate to the reality of COVID-19 once the virus has been reported, and interviews with tribal citizens in selected communities.

Between April and June, we collected 710 respondents from 18 communities across Southeast Alaska. Approximately 86% of the respondents were white and 10% were Alaska Native.

Primary Focus Areas:

1. The perception of how informed and prepared individuals feel
2. Individual’s perceptions of how prepared official agencies are and how well they are responding
3. The perception of individual health risk to COVID-19

Preliminary Findings:

Results from the first survey suggest that last spring people had greater confidence in local communities and government than the state and federal government, with the least amount of confidence in federal authorities. The perception of health risk was driven by age—the older a respondent was the more concerned they were about COVID-19. Also, Alaska Natives had a higher perception of mortality risk than white people.

Project Contact: Ron Heintz