Reviewing volcano hazard and risk communications in Ecuador: experiences from a fast-format workshop

Hazard and risk communication requires the design and dissemination of clear messages that enhance people’s actions before, during, and after volcanic crises. To create effective messages, the communication components such as message format and content, must be considered. Changes in technology are changing the way people communicate at an ever-increasing pace; thus, we propose revising the basic components of the communication process to improve the dialogue between scientists and the public. We describe communication issues during and outside volcanic crises in Ecuador and assess possible causes and consequences. These ideas were discussed during the short-duration “Volcano Geophysical Principles and Hazards Communications” Workshop in Baños, Ecuador in 2019. We review and propose communication strategies for volcanic hazards and risks that resulted from the workshop discussions and experiences of experts from the Instituto Geofísico (IG-EPN), local and international professors involved in volcano research and communication, and students from universities across Ecuador.

Challenges in Preventive Practices and Risk Communication towards COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Bangladesh recently experienced a COVID-19 second wave, resulting in the highest number of new cases and deaths in a single day. This study aims to identify the challenges for COVID-19 preventive practices and risk communications and associated factors among Bangladeshi adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 involving 1382 Bangladeshi adults (aged ≥ 18-years) in randomly selected urban and rural areas from all eight divisions in Bangladesh. Descriptive data analysis was conducted to highlight the challenges for preventive practices and risk communications for COVID-19. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the sociodemographic groups vulnerable to these challenges. Lack of availability of protective equipment (44.4%), crowded living situations/workspaces (36.8%), inadequate information on the proper use of protective measures (21.9%), inadequate handwashing and sanitation facilities (17.6%), and negative influences on family/friends (17.4%) were identified as barriers to COVID-19 preventive practices. It was also found that males (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.7), rural residents (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2, 2), respondents with a low level of education: no schooling vs. ≥higher secondary (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 2.3, 5.2), primary vs. ≥higher secondary (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.7, 3.8), respondents engaged in agricultural (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.4), laboring (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 2, 5), and domestic works (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.5), and people with disabilities (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.6) were all likely to have difficulty in practicing effective COVID-19 protective behaviors. Respondents’ education and occupation were significant predictors of inadequate understanding of COVID-19 risk communications and was identified as a problem among 17.4% of the respondents. A substantial percentage of Bangladeshi adults have difficulty practising COVID-19 protective behaviours and have poor comprehension of risk communications, particularly in rural areas and among those with low education. This research can aid policymakers in developing tailored COVID-19 risk communications and mitigation strategies to help prevent future waves of the pandemic.

Challenges in Preventive Practices and Risk Communication Towards COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Study in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND Bangladesh recently experienced a COVID-19 second wave, resulting in the highest number of new cases and deaths in a single day. This study aims to identify the challenges for COVID-19 preventive practices and risk communications and associated factors among Bangladeshi adults. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 involving 1,382 Bangladeshi adults (aged ≥ 18-years) in randomly selected urban and rural areas from all eight divisions in Bangladesh. Descriptive data analysis was conducted to highlight the challenges for preventive practices and risk communications for COVID-19. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the sociodemographic groups vulnerable to these challenges. RESULTS Lack of availability of protective equipment (44.4%), crowded living situations/workspaces (36.8%), inadequate information on the proper use of protective measures (21.9%), inadequate hand washing and sanitation facilities (17.6%), and negative influences of family/friends (17.4%) were identified as barriers to COVID-19 preventive practices. It was also found that males (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.01,1.7), rural residents (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2,2), respondents with a low level of education: No schooling vs ≥ higher secondary (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 2.3,5.2), Primary vs ≥ higher secondary (OR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.7,3.8), respondents engaged in agricultural (OR = 1.7, 95%CI = 1.2,2.4), laboring (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 2,5), and domestic (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.07,2.5) works, and people with disabilities (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1,2.6) were all likely to have difficulty in practicing effective COVID-19 protective behaviors. Respondents’ education and occupation were significant predictors of inadequate understanding of COVID-19 risk communications and was identified as a problem among 17.4% of the respondents. CONCLUSION A substantial percentage of Bangladeshi adults have difficulty practicing COVID-19 protective behaviors and have poor comprehension of risk communications, that is particularly prevalent in rural areas and among those with low education. This research can aid policymakers in developing tailored COVID-19 risk communications and mitigation strategies to help prevent future waves of the pandemic.

Identifying the Public’s Psychological Concerns in Response to COVID-19 Risk Messages in Singapore

Understanding the social-psychological processes that characterize communities’ reactions to a pandemic is the first step toward formulating risk communications that can lead to better health outcomes. This study examines comments on Facebook pages of five Singapore media outlets to understand what topics are being discussed by the public in reaction to the implemented precautionary measures in Singapore so as to infer their psychological concerns. Using Anchored Correlation Explanation as a topic modelling technique, this study examines around 10,000 comments and identifies 21 topics that are discussed. The 21 topics were categorized and organized into seven broad themes of psychological concerns. Implications for theory and practice are then discussed.

The concept of risk communications to ensure adherence to vaccination as a necessary component of the strategic development of immunoprophylaxis in Russia

It is indicated in the article the importance of vaccine confidence of the population, medical workers, the media, and the bodies of authority. The vaccine confidence is necessary for the implementation of vaccine prevention at the population level for national security. The risk-communication concept to ensure adherence to vaccine prevention of all segments of the population are present. The main directions of activities for the implementation of the concept are given.

‘It’s all the other stuff!’ How smokers understand (and misunderstand) chemicals in cigarettes and cigarette smoke

Many people understand chemicals as entities that do not occur naturally, and which are also invariably toxic. Tobacco control messages liberally use the term ‘chemicals’ to evoke these meanings and create concern among smokers. This may reinforce misunderstandings, potentially leading to smokers making harmful choices. To investigate smokers’ understandings of chemicals, we conducted qualitative research using 18 individual interviews and three focus groups with Australian smokers and recently quit smokers. The research was guided by the ‘mental models’ framework and the recently developed Context, Executive, and Operational Systems theory. We discerned two clusters of mental models: the first cluster focused on combustion as the overarching cause of harm (and were largely consistent with the science) and the second cluster focused on additives as causes of harm. We found most participants displayed limited knowledge of the causes of harm from smoking and some held mutually incompatible beliefs. Most participants believed that cigarettes differ significantly in harmfulness according to whether or not they were believed to contain additives. Only a minority understood that the bulk of the toxicants to which smokers are exposed are combustion products. These findings are directly relevant to tobacco control but also have broader relevance to risk communications about toxic exposures.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Bangladesh: Challenges on Price, Misinformation, and Trust

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination discussions in Bangladesh have exposed concerns and revealed challenges that must be overcome for the successful implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. Vaccine prices, misinformation, and trust are expected to be major potential barriers to achieving the necessary vaccination rates to combat the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh. In this commentary, we explore the roles played by vaccine prices and public health risk communications in achieving an inclusive vaccination strategy against COVID-19, especially among the country’s low-income population.