STUDY ON PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND
PRACTICES RELATED TO EVD PREVENTION AND MEDICAL CARE IN
SIERRA LEONE
Conducted: August 20th – 25th 2014
Objectives
Examine the public’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone
Identify bottlenecks to preventing the spread of EVD
Use the study to inform evidence-based strategies in preventing the transmission of EVD and caring for those already infected and affected by the epidemic
Methodology
Administered a household survey to a random sample of 1413 people in Sierra Leone: West Area: Rural and Urban East: Kenema and Kailahun North: Kambia, Port Loko, and Koinadugu South: Moyama and Bo
Conducted in-depth interview and focus groups with traditional/religious leaders, health workers and teachers, local councils, law enforcement personnel
High awareness, low denial
Aware of Ebola
Believe it exists in SL
Heard of a survivor
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
100% 97%
76% • “Ebola is Real” has resonated with the public
• Need to go beyond awareness raising
“Virus” less frequently mentioned/ perceived as cause of Ebola
Mentioned witchcraft as cause
Mentioned curse as cause
Mentioned God as cause of EVD
Mentioned virus as cause
Mentioned bats/monkeys/animal as cause
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
1%
1%
2%
41%
74%
Low comprehensive knowledge on EVD
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%79%
50%39%
Positive perceptions/attitudes on means of EVD prevention and care
AGREE - avoid contact with blood and body fluids
AGREE- avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who died of Ebola
AGREE - person with Ebola has higher chance of survival if s/he immediately goes to a health facility
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
87%
85%
91%
Serious misconceptions
Believe that bathing with salt and hot water can prevent Ebola
Believe Ebola is airborne
Believe one can get Ebola from Mosquito bites
Believe that spiritual healers can treat Ebola
Believe that traditional healers can treat Ebola
-10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
42%
30%
29%
19%
6%
Risk perceptions are mixed
No Risk “I do not get in contact with people who have Ebola”
“God is protecting me”
“I don’t eat bush meat”Great Risk“Ebola is everywhere”
No Risk
Small r
isk
Mod
erat
e ...
Great
risk
Not sur
e
No re
spon
se
36%
14%
10%
34%
5%
1%
Current channels for receiving EVD information
• RADIO, RADIO, RADIO
• Churches and Mosques have an even wider reach in the Epicenters – Kailahun, Kenema, P. Loko (65-75%)
• Television is also a wide-reaching channel in urban parts of the country such as Western Area and Bo
Mobile phone/ Text messages
Newspaper/ flyers/ Brochures/ other print media
Community meetings
Television
Megaphone announcements
Religious venues
Radio
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
1%
8%
12%
21%
22%
41%
88%
Preferred channels for receiving EVD info
Newspaper/ flyers/ Brochures/ other print media
Community meetings
Mobile phone/ Text messages
Megaphone announcements
Religious venues
Television
House visits by health professionals
Radio
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
9%
10%
10%
13%
18%
21%
28%
85%
• Again: RADIO, RADIO, RADIO
• House visits by health professional especially preferred in Epicenters – Kailahun, Kenema, Port Loko (54-63%)
Trusted sources of EVD information
• Health
professionals are
the most trusted
source - especially
in epicenters (67 –
86%)
•
Government/MoH
S is the second
most trusted source
of EVD related
information
Traditional leaders
Relatives and Friends
Religious leaders (Pastor, Imam)
The Media
Government/ MoHS
Health / medical professionals
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
0%
8%
8%
36%
48%
60%
Nearly everyone is reporting some change in behavior (95%)
Avoid physical contact with people I suspect may have Ebola
Clean hands with other disinfectants
Wash hands with soap and water
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
36%
37%
66% Hand washing with soap and water
HighestBo (84%) Koinadugu (82%)
LowestWestern Rural (40%) Port Loko (55%)
Very high level of stigma and discrimination towards Ebola victims
Would keep the information secret if a family member contracts Ebola
Believes pupil fully recovered from Ebola puts other pupils in their class at risk of Ebola
Would not welcome back neighbor into their community after recovering from Ebola
Some discriminatory attitude towards people suspected or having (had) Ebola
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
9%
32%
76%
96%
Very high acceptance levels towards use of holding centers & quarantining suspected Ebola cases
AGREE - person diagnosed with Ebola must be admitted into Treatment Center
AGREE - people in direct contact with someone diagnosed with Ebola must be
quarantined for 3 weeks
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
95%
89%
Ebola epidemic is having some negative effects on other essential health services Nearly 4 in 10 interviewed parents with an
Under-Five child who missed a scheduled vaccination cited Ebola epidemic as the reason
10% of pregnant women who missed a scheduled ANC cited the Ebola epidemic as the reason
Moving Forward Targeted and tailored messaging on Ebola preventionMessaging
Go beyond awareness raising; address
misconceptions
Clearly spell out modes of transmission using local
lang.
Develop simple/clear messages on protective
practices Reach high risk groups with targeted messages
Develop special messages around community
acceptance of Ebola affected persons and families
Moving forward more effective use of preferred and trusted sources of information Radio, Radio, Radio – must be maximally
used
Inter-personal engagement at
grassroots level
Effective use of television to tell survival
stories
Strategic engagement with churches and
mosques
Information should come from health
professionals and MoHS because they
are the most trusted source
Top Related