scholarly journals The Importance of Developing Rigorous Social Science Methods for Community Engagement and Behavior Change During Outbreak Response

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Henry C. Ashworth ◽  
Sara Dada ◽  
Conor Buggy ◽  
Shelley Lees
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Behavioral Modeling ◽  
Science Methods ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Social Science Methods ◽  
And Behavior

ABSTRACT Despite growing international attention, the anthropological and socio-behavioral elements of epidemics continue to be understudied and under resourced and lag behind the traditional outbreak response infrastructure. As seen in the current 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the importance of socio-behavioral elements in understanding transmission and facilitating control of many outbreak-prone pathogens, this is problematic. Beyond the recent strengthening of global outbreak response capacities and global health security measures, a greater focus on the socio-behavioral components of outbreak response is required. We add to the current discussion by briefly highlighting the importance of socio-behavior in the Ebola virus disease (EVD) response, and describe vital areas of future development, including methods for community engagement and validated frameworks for behavioral modeling and change in outbreak settings.

scholarly journals Protective population behavior change in outbreaks of emerging infectious disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evans K. Lodge ◽  
Annakate M. Schatz ◽  
John M. Drake
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Susceptible Population ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract Background During outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infections, the lack of effective drugs and vaccines increases reliance on non-pharmacologic public health interventions and behavior change to limit human-to-human transmission. Interventions that increase the speed with which infected individuals remove themselves from the susceptible population are paramount, particularly isolation and hospitalization. Ebola virus disease (EVD), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) are zoonotic viruses that have caused significant recent outbreaks with sustained human-to-human transmission. Methods This investigation quantified changing mean removal rates (MRR) and days from symptom onset to hospitalization (DSOH) of infected individuals from the population in seven different outbreaks of EVD, SARS, and MERS, to test for statistically significant differences in these metrics between outbreaks. Results We found that epidemic week and viral serial interval were correlated with the speed with which populations developed and maintained health behaviors in each outbreak. Conclusions These findings highlight intrinsic population-level changes in isolation rates in multiple epidemics of three zoonotic infections with established human-to-human transmission and significant morbidity and mortality. These data are particularly useful for disease modelers seeking to forecast the spread of emerging pathogens.

scholarly journals A Transdisciplinary Approach to Get a Deeper Insight in the Context of Ebola Virus Outbreaks in War-torn Regions: A Comprehensive Guide for NGOs

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-89
Author(s):  
Jef Baelen ◽  
Karolien Coolen ◽  
Benoit Deforche ◽  
Hanne-Lise Frateur ◽  
Joachim Langeraet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Anthropological Perspective ◽  
Medical Aid ◽  
Building Trust

Ebola virus disease is a deadly disease with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 90%. The previous outbreak in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) posed extra challenges since it took place in a war-torn region. The roots of this conflict can be traced back to the beginning of colonization (at the end of the 19th century) and have led to struggles concerning land tenure and local identity. The political and socioeconomic situation further complicated an adequate Ebola virus outbreak response. Early efforts and control strategies taken by the DRC Ministry of Health, supported by the WHO, UN peacekeepers and a number of humanitarian aid organizations eventually resulted in the tenth Congolese outbreak being controlled. However, medical NGOs encountered many obstacles, ranging from mistrust by the local population, to an unsafe working environment, lack of infrastructure, etc. This paper identifies building trust as one of the key ele ments for NGOs to optimize cooperation with the local population. Our data, gathered from semi-structured interviews, showed that establishing a relationship of trust with affected people and their communities is a crucial step in the Ebola virus outbreak response. This includes building a better comprehension by medical care workers of the local dynamics and cultural affinities. Therefore, we created a questionnaire to be used by medical aid organizations to increase their understanding of the local situation from an anthropological perspective. Such an understanding will contribute to building trust between the local community and medical aid organizations working in the field. This will hopefully enable them to anticipate future problems, and do their job in a more profound and comprehensive way, incorporating the local community as a partner for success. We have summarized our conclusions in a small 10-minute video.

scholarly journals Anthropology in public health emergencies:what is anthropology good for?

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e000534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darryl Stellmach ◽  
Isabel Beshar ◽  
Juliet Bedford ◽  
Philipp du Cros ◽  
Beverley Stringer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Increasing Demand

Recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (2013–2016) and Zika virus (2015–2016) bring renewed recognition of the need to understand social pathways of disease transmission and barriers to care. Social scientists, anthropologists in particular, have been recognised as important players in disease outbreak response because of their ability to assess social, economic and political factors in local contexts. However, in emergency public health response, as with any interdisciplinary setting, different professions may disagree over methods, ethics and the nature of evidence itself. A disease outbreak is no place to begin to negotiate disciplinary differences. Given increasing demand for anthropologists to work alongside epidemiologists, clinicians and public health professionals in health crises, this paper gives a basic introduction to anthropological methods and seeks to bridge the gap in disciplinary expectations within emergencies. It asks: ‘What can anthropologists do in a public health crisis and how do they do it?’ It argues for an interdisciplinary conception of emergency and the recognition that social, psychological and institutional factors influence all aspects of care.

scholarly journals Global health security: the wider lessons from the west African Ebola virus disease epidemic

The Lancet ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 385 (9980) ◽  
pp. 1884-1901 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L Heymann ◽  
Lincoln Chen ◽  
Keizo Takemi ◽  
David P Fidler ◽  
Jordan W Tappero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
West African ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Global Health Security ◽  
The West ◽  
Health Security

Mass Gatherings: Experience and Difficulties in Elaborating an Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response Plan in a Private Hospital in Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. S123-S124
Author(s):  
Bianca Grassi de Miranda ◽  
Daiane Cais ◽  
Juliana Nunes ◽  
Lanuza Duarte ◽  
Maria Luisa Moura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Private Hospital ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Mass Gatherings ◽  
Response Plan

scholarly journals COVID-19 Outbreak in Africa: Lessons and Insights from the West African Ebola Virus Disease Epidemics

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 96-99
Author(s):  
Oluwafolajimi Adetoye Adesanya
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Past Experiences

Over the years, the African continent has had to battle several outbreaks of infectious diseases in different countries. Some of the most deadly were the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks that occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016 affecting Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and, more recently, from 2018 to 2020 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that as a continent, we draw lessons and insights from our past experiences to guide outbreak response strategies being deployed to curb the latest onslaught. The Ebola outbreaks have shown that disease outbreaks should not be seen only as medical emergencies, but as full blown humanitarian crises, because oftentimes, their socio-economic impacts are more devastating than the more obvious cost to life. In this mini-review, we explore the possible humanitarian costs of the COVID-19 pandemic on the African continent by looking through the lens of our past experiences with the EVD outbreaks, highlighting how the current pandemic could significantly affect the African economy, food security, and vulnerable demographics, like children and the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls. We then proffer recommendations that could be instrumental in preventing a double tragedy involving the devastating health consequences of the virus itself and the deadly fallout from its multi-sectoral knock-on effects in African countries. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Ebola Virus Disease, Coronavirus.

scholarly journals Assessing the Geographic Context of Risk Perception and Behavioral Response to Potential Ebola Exposure

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Shook ◽  
Andrew Curtis ◽  
Jacqueline Curtis ◽  
Gregory Gibson ◽  
Anthony Vander Horst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Kent State University ◽  
Geographic Context ◽  
And Behavior

The 2014–2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic outbreak reached over 28,000 cases and totaled over 11,000 deaths with 4 confirmed cases in the United States, which sparked widespread public concern about nationwide spread of EVD. Concern was elevated in locations connected to the infected people, which included Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. This threat of exposure enabled a unique opportunity to assess self-reported knowledge about EVD, risk perception, and behavior response to EVD. Unlike existing studies, which often survey one point in time across geographically coarse scales, this work offers insights into the geographic context of risk perception and behavior at finer-grained spatial and temporal scales. We report results from 3138 respondents comprised of faculty, staff, and students at two time periods. Results reveal increased EVD knowledge, decreased risk perception, and reduction in protective actions during this time. Faculty had the lowest perceived risk, followed by staff and then students, suggesting the role of education in this outcome. However, the most impactful result is the proof-of-concept for this study design to be deployed in the midst of a disease outbreak. Such geographically targeted and temporally dynamic surveys distributed during an outbreak can show where and when risk perception and behaviors change, which can provide policy-makers with rapid results that can shape intervention practices.

scholarly journals Knowledge, (mis-)conceptions, risk perception, and behavior change during pandemics: A scoping review of 149 studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 777-799
Author(s):  
Umair Majid ◽  
Aghna Wasim ◽  
Simran Bakshi ◽  
Judy Truong
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
And Behavior

The severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus-2 pandemic has spread rapidly and has a growing impact on individuals, communities, and healthcare systems worldwide. At the core of any pandemic response is the ability of authorities and other stakeholders to react appropriately by promoting hygiene and social distancing behaviors. Successfully reaching this goal requires both individual and collective efforts to drastically modify daily routines and activities. There is a need to clarify how knowledge and awareness of disease influence risk perception, and subsequent behavior in the context of pandemics and global outbreaks. We conducted a scoping review of 149 studies spanning different regions and populations to examine the relationships between knowledge, risk perceptions, and behavior change. We analyzed studies on five major pandemics or outbreaks in the twenty-first century: severe acute respiratory syndrome, influenza A/H1N1, Middle East respiratory syndrome, Ebola virus disease, and coronavirus disease 2019.

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