Actor‐network analysis of community‐based organisations in health pandemics: evidence from the COVID‐19 response in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

Freetown is confronted with health‐related risks that are compounded by rapid unplanned urbanisation and weak capacities of local government institutions. Addressing such community health risks implies a shared responsibility between government and non‐state actors. In low‐income communities, the role of Community‐Based Organisations (CBOs) in combatting health disasters is well‐recognized. Yet, empirical evidence about how CBOs have drawn on their networks and coordinated community‐level strategies in responding to the Covid‐19 pandemic is scant. Based on a qualitative study in two informal settlements in Freetown, this paper draws on actor‐network theory to understand how CBOs problematize Covid‐19 as a health risk, interact with other actors and the tensions that arise within these actor networks. The study findings show that community vulnerabilities and past experiences with health disasters such as Ebola informed CBOs' perception of Covid‐19 as communal emergency. In response, CBOs coordinated sensitization and mobilization programs by relying on a network of internal and external actors to support Covid‐19 risk reduction strategies. Nonetheless, misunderstandings among actors caused tensions in the actor‐ network. The study suggests that creating new channels for knowledge exchange and building on CBO capacity can help strengthen actor networks in communities and combat current and future health disasters. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

The moderating role of Covid-19-related support on urban livelihood capitals: Evidence from suburban Accra

“…Indeed, health epidemics and pandemics disrupt social capital but also generate cascading effects in long-term economic, social, and cultural dimensions ( Aassve, et al, 2020 ). Yet, social networks and resources within communities are essential for coping and recovering from crises situations ( Alonge et al, 2019 ; Fatemi et al, 2020 ; Abunyewah et al, 2022 ), including health pandemics ( Frimpong et al, 2022 ; Alfano, 2022 ; Wong & Kohler, 2020 ). Nonetheless, this study hypothesizes that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts social capital given the nature of COVID-19 pandemic policies such as social distancing, post-exposure quarantining, shelter-in-place orders, and travel bans that restricted movement and interactions.…”

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