Abstract
Objectives
There is a paucity of systematic data on the specific roles community engagement played in preventing and managing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We assessed community engagement's role, benefits, and mechanisms to understand its effect on EVD case detection, survival, and mortality in SSA. Implications for COVID-19 prevention and control were also highlighted.
Methods
We systematically searched for articles between 2010 and 2020 in databases such as MEDLINE and EMBASE. Study types included were randomised trials, quasi-experimental studies, observational studies, case series, and reports.
Results
A total of 903 records were identified for screening. 216 articles met the review criteria, 103 were initially selected, and 44 were included in the final review. Our findings show that effective community involvement during the EVD outbreak depended on the survival rates, testimonials of survivors, risk perception, and community leaders’ inclusion. Community-based interventions improved knowledge and attitudes, case findings, isolation efforts and treatment.
Conclusion
Although the studies included in this review were of highly variable quality, community engagement lessons learned from Ebola outbreaks can be applied to COVID-19 pandemic control in SSA.