In response to NOT-MD-20-019, this administrative supplement examined the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and related local public health mandates (e.g., Shelter in Place) in a population of women heavily affected by health disparities. The parent study on health literacy and healthcare utilization among women in the criminal probation system (R01MD010439) maintained a cohort of 370 women, 73% of whom were African American and 82% of whom had one or more chronic health conditions.

Emerging research indicated that these characteristics were linked with disparities in COVID-19 risk, infection, and mortality. The community-based study, located in Oakland (Alameda County), California, adapted to the formal Shelter-in-Place order, beginning March 17, 2020, by modifying data collection from in-person interviews to telephone-based interviews. Given the public health crisis and reports from participants about its immediate impacts, data collection began in May 2020 to systematically assess the medical and social consequences of the outbreak.

This supplement furthered the objectives of NOT-MD-20-019 by addressing the urgent need to understand how COVID-19 and related public health mandates contributed to health disparities.