Perceptions, knowledge, and communication preferences about indoor mold and its health implications among persons affected by Hurricane Harvey: a focus group analysis

BACKGROUND: Among people affected by Hurricane Harvey, we assessed experiences and perceptions (e.g., knowledge, attitudes, and practices) regarding mold and its impact on health and elicited participants’ opinions about how to improve public health messaging about indoor mold after a large flooding event. METHODS: Houston Health Department conducted four focus groups with 31 Houston metropolitan area residents during January to March 2020, using a semi-structured discussion guide and federal communication materials about indoor mold. Drawing from a theoretical framework analysis, transcripts were grouped into relevant themes using inductive and deductive coding. RESULTS: Hurricane Harvey had a large impact on participants’ living standards, and widespread financial barriers to remediation led to long-term mold exposure for many participants. Knowledge about mold’s impact on health and proper mold clean-up practices varied, and clean-up behaviors did not commonly align with federal guidance. Participants generally preferred traditional forms of outreach, such as in-person, radio, and television announcements, to communicate public health messaging. CONCLUSIONS: More strategic dissemination of expanded public health educational materials about proper mold clean-up practices and the health risks of mold exposure following flooding events is needed.