Effective risk communication and contact tracing for Ebola virus disease prevention and control – Experiences from Port Harcourt, Nigeria

The effect of risk communication on the nurses' task and contextual performance in disease outbreak control in Ghana: Application of the cause model

“…Risk communication is a branch of communication that focuses on explaining potential hazards and dangers that threaten individuals or the things they value. 49 Research on the use of risk communication for disease outbreak control among health workers has increased, 31,[50][51][52][53] primarily because risk communication has been identified as an effective intervention for outbreak control. Yet, during these outbreaks, nurses face difficulties in achieving effective communication, which, in turn, lowers their required level of task performance.…”

“…However, in the context of managing health risks, risk communication is considered as an effective and accurate exchange of information about health risks and hazards, which advances risk awareness and understanding, as well as promoting health‐protective behaviors among individuals, communities, and institutions 30 . Literature on risk communication as an intervention to control disease outbreaks in public health has increased recently 31 . For instance, in the wake of the recent Ebola, Zika, and yellow fever outbreaks, risk communication received a high level of attention.…”

“…30 Literature on risk communication as an intervention to control disease outbreaks in public health has increased recently. 31 For instance, in the wake of the recent Ebola, Zika, and yellow fever outbreaks, risk communication received a high level of attention. Consequently, in December 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) commissioned a rapid review gray literature evidence (2015-2016), to provide additional underpinning for the development of the first-ever evidence-based Guideline on communicating risk during public health emergencies.…”

What Do We Know About Controlling Ebola Virus Disease Outbreaks?

“…13 Urban outbreaks have been characterised by higher population density, leading to higher attack rates; a more mobile 2 Retrovirology: Research and Treatment population, inhibiting adequate contact tracing; and reduced social networks, rendering social mobilisation less effective. 14 In the Western Area of Sierra Leone, including the capital Freetown, more than 75% of new confirmed EVD cases were not listed as contacts at the start of their illness. 15 Confirmed cases in urban areas had twice as many listed contacts as those in rural areas, and contacts were more likely to be unrelated neighbours as opposed to family members, with direct implications on the ease and quality of contact tracing.…”

Nigeria’s Ebola Outbreak Response: Lessons for Future Epidemic Preparedness

“…Communities are better poised to mobilize themselves and identify resources that could be rapidly deployed at the onset of an outbreak to stop further propagation. For instance, working with the community, the health workers were able to overcome and resistance to establishment of ETCs in some communities due to the fear and anxiety of the spread of Ebola [12]. With little incentives, communities were also helpful in tracking down escapee contacts, notifying suspect cases, promoting hand-washing, social distancing and increasing population awareness of EVD preventive measures such as unsafe burial practices, and in many instances prevailed on community members to co-operate with healthcare workers in tracing and following up contacts of Ebola cases.…”