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Cristea F, Weishaar H, Geurts B, Delamou A, Tan MMJ, Legido-Quigley H, Aminu K, Mari-Sáez A, Rocha C, Camara B, Barry L, Thea P, Boucsein J, Bahr T, Al-Awlaqi S, Pozo-Martin F, Boklage E, Jegede AS, Bcheraoui CE. A comparative analysis of experienced uncertainties in relation to risk communication during COVID19: a four-country study. Global Health 2022; 18:66. [PMID: 35761365 PMCID: PMC9235152 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-022-00857-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During outbreaks, uncertainties experienced by affected communities can influence their compliance to government guidance on public health. Communicators and authorities are, hence, encouraged to acknowledge and address such uncertainties. However, in the midst of public health crises, it can become difficult to define and identify uncertainties that are most relevant to address. We analyzed data on COVID-19-related uncertainties from four socio-economic contexts to explore how uncertainties can influence people’s perception of, and response to Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategies. Results This qualitative study, which adopts an interpretative approach, is based on data from a documentary review, key informant interviews (KII), and focus group discussions (FGD) with members of the general public and people with barriers to information from Germany, Guinea, Nigeria, and Singapore. Transcripts from the KII and FGD were coded and analyzed thematically. We interviewed a total of 155 KIs and conducted 73 FGD. Our analysis uncovered a divergence between uncertainties deemed relevant by stakeholders involved in policy making and uncertainties that people reportedly had to navigate in their everyday lives and which they considered relevant during the pandemic. We identified four types of uncertainties that seemed to have influenced people’s assessment of the disease risk and their trust in the pandemic control strategies including RCCE efforts: epidemiological uncertainties (related to the nature and severity of the virus), information uncertainties (related to access to reliable information), social uncertainties (related to social behavior in times of heightened risk), and economic uncertainties (related to financial insecurities). Conclusion We suggest that in future outbreaks, communicators and policy makers could improve the way in which affected communities assess their risk, and increase the trust of these communities in response efforts by addressing non-epidemiological uncertainties in RCCE strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florin Cristea
- Evidence-Based Public Health Unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heide Weishaar
- Evidence-Based Public Health Unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Brogan Geurts
- Evidence-Based Public Health Unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandre Delamou
- African Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases & Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, PoBox 1017, Dixinn, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Melisa Mei Jin Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore
| | - Helena Legido-Quigley
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore
| | - Kafayat Aminu
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, 1, Oyo Road, Agbowo, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Almudena Mari-Sáez
- Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carlos Rocha
- Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bienvenu Camara
- Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, Département de Recherche, Unité de Socio-Anthropologie, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Lansana Barry
- African Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, PoBox 1017, Dixinn, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Paul Thea
- African Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, PoBox 1017, Dixinn, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Johannes Boucsein
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany.,Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.,European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thurid Bahr
- Evidence-Based Public Health Unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sameh Al-Awlaqi
- Evidence-Based Public Health Unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francisco Pozo-Martin
- Evidence-Based Public Health Unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Evgeniya Boklage
- Health Information Centre for International Health Protection unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ayodele Samuel Jegede
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, 1, Oyo Road, Agbowo, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Charbel El Bcheraoui
- Evidence-Based Public Health Unit, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
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de Araújo DHM, de Carvalho EA, Jatoba A, de Carvalho PVR, Gomes JO. Social networks applied to Dengue, H1N1, and Zika epidemics: An integrative literature review. Work 2021; 67:721-732. [PMID: 33164977 DOI: 10.3233/wor-203321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health crises occur both regionally and globally. Online social networks are widely used technical resources that allow users to share large amounts of information with increasing reach and velocity. Thus, the capacity of spreading information about epidemics through social media allows members of a population and health professionals or agencies to collaborate. METHOD This study presents results obtained in an integrative review, including examples of how social media enabled collaboration in health surveillance to treat the epidemies of Dengue, Zika, and H1N1. The literature review covers studies published between 2009 and 2017. RESULTS The studies reviewed indicate that social media interactions are tools for the rapid dissemination of information. These networks operate at low cost and allow information to reach audiences in need of information and who otherwise would not receive it. Social media allowed researchers to monitor evolving epidemics and obtain epidemiological data useful for decision-making in health surveillance. CONCLUSIONS Despite the widespread use of social networks, there are opportunities for improvement, especially in technology for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - José Orlando Gomes
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Informática, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro PPGI/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Carabali M, Austin N, King NB, Kaufman JS. The Zika epidemic and abortion in Latin America: a scoping review. Glob Health Res Policy 2018; 3:15. [PMID: 29750204 PMCID: PMC5932843 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-018-0069-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Latin America presently has the world's highest burden of Zika virus, but there are unexplained differences in national rates of congenital malformations collectively referred to as Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in the region. While Zika virulence and case detection likely contribute to these differences, policy-related factors, including access to abortion, may play important roles. Our goal was to assess perspectives on, and access to, abortion in Latin America in the context of the Zika epidemic. METHODS We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed and gray literature published between January 2015 and December 2016, written in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French. We searched PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar for literature on Zika and/or CZS and abortion, and used automated and manual review methods to synthesize the existing information. RESULTS 36 publications met our inclusion criteria, the majority of which were qualitative. Publications were generally in favor of increased access to safe abortion as a policy-level response for mitigating the impact of CZS, but issues with implementation were cited as the main challenge. Aside from the reform of abortion regulation in Colombia, we did not find evidence that the Zika epidemic had triggered shifts in abortion policy in other countries. CONCLUSION Abortion policy in the region remained largely unchanged following the Zika epidemic. Further empirical research on abortion access and differential rates of CZS across Latin American countries is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel Carabali
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Purvis Hall Room 17A, Montreal, QC H3A 1A2 Canada
| | - Nichole Austin
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Purvis Hall Room 17A, Montreal, QC H3A 1A2 Canada
| | - Nicholas B. King
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Purvis Hall Room 17A, Montreal, QC H3A 1A2 Canada
- Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Jay S. Kaufman
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Purvis Hall Room 17A, Montreal, QC H3A 1A2 Canada
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Pérez D, Van der Stuyft P, Toledo ME, Ceballos E, Fabré F, Lefèvre P. Insecticide treated curtains and residual insecticide treatment to control Aedes aegypti: An acceptability study in Santiago de Cuba. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006115. [PMID: 29293501 PMCID: PMC5766245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Within the context of a field trial conducted by the Cuban vector control program (AaCP), we assessed acceptability of insecticide-treated curtains (ITCs) and residual insecticide treatment (RIT) with deltamethrin by the community. We also assessed the potential influence of interviewees’ risk perceptions for getting dengue and disease severity. Methodology/principal findings We embedded a qualitative study using in-depth interviews in a cluster randomized trial (CRT) testing the effectiveness of ITCs and RIT in Santiago de Cuba. In-depth interviews (N = 38) were conducted four and twelve months after deployment of the tools with people who accepted the tools, who stopped using them and who did not accept the tools. Data analysis was deductive. Main reasons for accepting ITCs at the start of the trial were perceived efficacy and not being harmful to health. Constraints linked to manufacturer instructions were the main reason for not using ITCs. People stopped using the ITCs due to perceived allergy, toxicity and low efficacy. Few heads of households refused RIT despite the noting reasons for rejection, such as allergy, health hazard and toxicity. Positive opinions of the vector control program influenced acceptability of both tools. However, frequent insecticide fogging as part of routine AaCP vector control actions diminished perceived efficacy of both tools and, therefore, acceptability. Fifty percent of interviewees did feel at risk for getting dengue and considered dengue a severe disease. However, this did not appear to influence acceptability of ITCs or RIT. Conclusion/significance Acceptability of ITCs and RIT was linked to acceptability of AaCP routine vector control activities. However, uptake and use were not always an indication of acceptability. Factors leading to acceptability may be best identified using qualitative methods, but more research is needed on the concept of acceptability and its measurement. We aimed to understand what makes insecticide-treated curtains (ITCs) and residual insecticide treatment (RIT) with deltamethrin acceptable or not to users of these tools. In-depth interviews were conducted as part of a field trial conducted by the Cuban vector control program (AaCP) to test the effectiveness of these tools in Santiago de Cuba. Perceived efficacy was the main reason for interviewees who accepted the tools. Constraints linked to manufacturer instructions were the main reason for not using the ITCs when offered at the start of the trial. People stopped using the ITCs due to perceived allergy, toxicity and low efficacy. Few heads of households refused RIT despite identifying various reasons for rejection, such as allergy, health hazard and toxicity. Positive opinions of the Cuban vector control program influenced acceptability of both tools. On the contrary, perceptions of dengue risk did not appear to influence acceptability of ITCs or RIT. Our findings add on the importance of the growing body of qualitative research assessing acceptability of health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Pérez
- Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí, Havana, Cuba
- * E-mail:
| | - Patrick Van der Stuyft
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - María Eugenia Toledo
- Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí, Havana, Cuba
| | - Enrique Ceballos
- Department of Vector Control, Polyclinic Armando García, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
| | - Francisco Fabré
- Department of Vector Control, Provincial Surveillance and Vector Control Unit, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
| | - Pierre Lefèvre
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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