Abstract
Background
The 2013–2015 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Guinea resulted in community mistrust that influenced health care service utilization. This study aimed to assess whether EVD-related memories affect post-outbreak health-seeking behaviours for children under five years of age with febrile illnesses in Guéckédou district, Guinea.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing caregivers of children under five years of age in the sub-district most affected by the EVD outbreak (Guèndembou) and the least affected sub-district (Bolodou) in Guéckédou district. Memories of the outbreak were referred to as EVD-related fears in the post-EVD period, which was based on a series of questions regarding current feelings.
Results
While the majority of caregivers sought care for their children with febrile illness in both districts, a statistically significantly higher proportion of caregivers in Guèndembou sought care, compared to caregivers in Bolodou. Though not statistically significant, caregivers with a fear score above the median and those who reported the death of family members or friends due to EVD were more likely to seek care.
Conclusions
This study found that the presence of EVD memories is likely to have a positive influence on health-seeking behaviour in the rural district of Guéckédou. However, the findings call for more efforts to preserve communities’ key values and address the psychosocial effects of EVD in rural Guinea.
Paternal Factors and Inequity Associated with Access to Maternal Health Care Service Utilization in Nepal: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study
