552 What are the everyday beliefs, management practices and lived experiences of members of ethnic minority groups that are relevant to gastrointestinal infection exposure?

Abstract EP2.5, e-Poster Terminal 2, September 5, 2025, 13:05 - 13:30 Aims: Gastrointestinal (GI) infections burden UK healthcare services and the economy. The exposure patterns across ethnic groups for GI infections are unclear. While ethnic inequalities exist in infectious diseases, qualitative studies are lacking on people’s lived experiences of GI infections. This study seeks to fill this gap by exploring the everyday beliefs, management practices, and lived experiences of participants belonging to ethnic minority groups (EMGs) regarding GI infections. Methods: I conducted 38 semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling based on ethnicity and gender. These included men identifying as black (n = 22), Pakistani (n = two), Maldivian (n = one), Indian (n = one), and women identified as Pakistani (n = seven), Indian African (n = three), and Bangladeshi (n = two). Interviews were predominantly conducted in English (n = 34), audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim in English from Urdu (n = four). Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis in Microsoft Excel and NVIVO14. Results: Three themes were developed: 1. The risk perception of GI infections included multiple causes, like poor food preparation, lack of cleanliness, and travel to high-prevalence countries. 2. Managing GI infections included behavioural change practices such as increased handwashing, avoiding cross-contamination in the household and external environments and being mindful of the risks of eating out. GI infection experiences negatively impacted participants’ everyday lives with severe financial consequences and stigma. 3. Participant’s experiences of GI infections differed by gender and generational status. Conclusions: By understanding the beliefs, management practices and experiences of ethnic minority participants relevant to GI infections, future research requires developing population- based interventions to tackle inequalities in the risk of GI infections.