The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo; Fulbert Kwilu Nappa; Pierre Akilimali Zalagile; Mapatano Mala Ali; Désiré Mashinda Kulimba; Jack Hyyombo Tambwe Kokolomami

doi:doi:10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25

The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo, Fulbert Kwilu Nappa, Pierre Akilimali Zalagile, Mapatano Mala Ali, Désiré Mashinda Kulimba, Jack Hyyombo Tambwe Kokolomami

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 5, Issue 6)

Received: 28 October 2019 Accepted: 2 December 2019 Published: 7 December 2019

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

To date, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is enduring its largest and longest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of control measures of Ebola outbreak. This was a qualitative study conducted in three health zones in three districts, namely- Katwa in Butembo city, Beni in Beni city and Mandima in Ituri Province. Thirty-eight participants were purposively selected. In-depth interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to report qualitative findings. The results of this study showed that participants’ experience of the EVD was marked by fear, fatality and mistrust of the response team rooted in the pre-existing distrust of the national authorities. The majority of participants strongly denied the existence of the Ebola virus considering it either as a political ploy to exterminate one ethnic group or as a scheme exaggerated for materialistic reasons. As a result, they showed hostile perception of control measures particularly the vaccination of contacts. However, during previous Ebola outbreaks in the DRC a positive perception of those measures was shown. We then concluded that Addressing the Ebola outbreak requires an adapted bottom-up communication that could help alleviate this lack of trust.

Published in	Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 5, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25
Page(s)	322-327
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ebola, Outbreak, Experience, Control Measures

References

[1]	Ministry of Health. Strategic Response Plan for the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak. Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2018.
[2]	World Health Organization. Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo-Disease outbreak news: Update 22 August 2019 [Internet]. Geneva; 2019. Available from: https://www.who.int/csr/don/22-august-2019-ebola-drc/en/
[3]	Maxmen A. Ebola outbreak surges towards 1,000 cases. Nature. 2019; 567: 153–4.
[4]	Vinck P, Pham PN, Bindu KK, Bedford J, Nilles EJ. Articles Institutional trust and misinformation in the response to the 2018 – 19 Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, DR Congo: a population-based survey. Lancet Infect Dis [Internet]. 2019; 3099 (19): 1–8.
[5]	Roca A, Afolabi MO, Saidu Y, Kampmann B. Ebola: A holistic approach is required to achieve effective management and control. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015; 135 (4): 856–67.
[6]	Nkengasong JN, Onyebujoh P. Response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Lancet. 2018; 391 (10138): 2395-2398.
[7]	Pellecchia U. Quarantine and its malcontents: How liberians responded to the ebola epidemic containment measures. Anthropol Action. 2017; 24 (2): 15–24.
[8]	Pandey A, Atkins KE, Medlock J, Wenzel N, Townsend JP, Childs JE, et al. Strategies for containing Ebola in West Africa. Science. 2014; 346 [6212]: 991–6.
[9]	Gross L, Lhomme E, Pasin C, Richert L, Thiebaut R. Ebola vaccine development: Systematic review of pre-clinical and clinical studies, and meta-analysis of determinants of antibody response variability after vaccination. Int J Infect Dis. 2018; 74: 83–96.
[10]	Gray N, Stringer B, Broeder R, Jephcott F, Perache AH, Bark G, et al. Research Protocol - Understanding how communities interact with the Ebola intervention as it unfolds and the subsequent value of specific control measures for a sustained success in the response in Sierra Leone: a qualitative study [Internet]. 2016. Available from: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https:// i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png
[11]	Pellecchia U, Crestani R, Decroo T, Van Den Bergh R, Al-Kourdi Y. Social consequences of ebola containment measures in Liberia. PLoS One. 2015; 10 (12): 1–12.
[12]	Nuriddin A, Jalloh MF, Meyer E, Bunnell R, Bio FA, Jalloh MB, et al. Trust, fear, stigma and disruptions: Community perceptions and experiences during periods of low but ongoing transmission of Ebola virus disease in Sierra Leone, 2015. BMJ Glob Heal. 2018; 3 [2]: 1–11.
[13]	Gesser-Edelsburg A, Shir-Raz Y. Science vs. fear: the Ebola quarantine debate as a case study that reveals how the public perceives risk. J Risk Res. 2017; 20 (5): 611–33.
[14]	Shultz JM, Cooper JL, Baingana F, Oquendo MA, Espinel Z, Althouse BM, et al. The Role of Fear-Related Behaviors in the 2013–2016 West Africa Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016; 18 (11): 104. doi: 10.1007/s11920-016-0741-y.
[15]	Cohn S, Kutalek R. Historical parallels, ebola virus disease and cholera: Understanding community distrust and social violence with epidemics. PLoS Curr. 2016 Jan 26; 8. pii: ecurrents.outbreaks.aa1f2b60e8d43939b43fbd93e1a63a94.
[16]	Trapido J. Ebola: public trust, intermediaries, and rumour in the DR Congo. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2019; 19: 457–8.
[17]	Nyenswah T, Blackley DJ, Freeman T, Lindblade KA, Arzoaquoi SK, Village M, et al. Community Quarantine to Interrupt Ebola Virus Transmission —. Morb Mortal Weekley Rep. 2015; 64 [7]: 179–82.
[18]	Fung IC, Fu K-W, Chan C-H, Chan BSB, Cheung C-N, Abraham T, et al. Social Media’ s Initial Reaction to Information and Misinformation on Ebola, August 2014: Facts and Rumors. Public Health Rep. 2016; 131: 461–73.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo, Fulbert Kwilu Nappa, Pierre Akilimali Zalagile, Mapatano Mala Ali, Désiré Mashinda Kulimba, et al. (2019). The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019. Central African Journal of Public Health, 5(6), 322-327. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo; Fulbert Kwilu Nappa; Pierre Akilimali Zalagile; Mapatano Mala Ali; Désiré Mashinda Kulimba, et al. The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2019, 5(6), 322-327. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo, Fulbert Kwilu Nappa, Pierre Akilimali Zalagile, Mapatano Mala Ali, Désiré Mashinda Kulimba, et al. The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2019;5(6):322-327. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25,
  author = {Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo and Fulbert Kwilu Nappa and Pierre Akilimali Zalagile and Mapatano Mala Ali and Désiré Mashinda Kulimba and Jack Hyyombo Tambwe Kokolomami},
  title = {The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {5},
  number = {6},
  pages = {322-327},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20190506.25},
  abstract = {To date, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is enduring its largest and longest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of control measures of Ebola outbreak. This was a qualitative study conducted in three health zones in three districts, namely- Katwa in Butembo city, Beni in Beni city and Mandima in Ituri Province. Thirty-eight participants were purposively selected. In-depth interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to report qualitative findings. The results of this study showed that participants’ experience of the EVD was marked by fear, fatality and mistrust of the response team rooted in the pre-existing distrust of the national authorities. The majority of participants strongly denied the existence of the Ebola virus considering it either as a political ploy to exterminate one ethnic group or as a scheme exaggerated for materialistic reasons. As a result, they showed hostile perception of control measures particularly the vaccination of contacts. However, during previous Ebola outbreaks in the DRC a positive perception of those measures was shown. We then concluded that Addressing the Ebola outbreak requires an adapted bottom-up communication that could help alleviate this lack of trust.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY - JOUR
T1 - The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019
AU - Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo
AU - Fulbert Kwilu Nappa
AU - Pierre Akilimali Zalagile
AU - Mapatano Mala Ali
AU - Désiré Mashinda Kulimba
AU - Jack Hyyombo Tambwe Kokolomami
Y1 - 2019/12/07
PY - 2019
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25
DO - 10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25
T2 - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP - 322
EP - 327
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2575-5781
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25
AB - To date, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is enduring its largest and longest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of control measures of Ebola outbreak. This was a qualitative study conducted in three health zones in three districts, namely- Katwa in Butembo city, Beni in Beni city and Mandima in Ituri Province. Thirty-eight participants were purposively selected. In-depth interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to report qualitative findings. The results of this study showed that participants’ experience of the EVD was marked by fear, fatality and mistrust of the response team rooted in the pre-existing distrust of the national authorities. The majority of participants strongly denied the existence of the Ebola virus considering it either as a political ploy to exterminate one ethnic group or as a scheme exaggerated for materialistic reasons. As a result, they showed hostile perception of control measures particularly the vaccination of contacts. However, during previous Ebola outbreaks in the DRC a positive perception of those measures was shown. We then concluded that Addressing the Ebola outbreak requires an adapted bottom-up communication that could help alleviate this lack of trust.
VL - 5
IS - 6
ER -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo

Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fulbert Kwilu Nappa

Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pierre Akilimali Zalagile

Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mapatano Mala Ali

Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Désiré Mashinda Kulimba

Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jack Hyyombo Tambwe Kokolomami

Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo, Fulbert Kwilu Nappa, Pierre Akilimali Zalagile, Mapatano Mala Ali, Désiré Mashinda Kulimba, et al. (2019). The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019. Central African Journal of Public Health, 5(6), 322-327. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo; Fulbert Kwilu Nappa; Pierre Akilimali Zalagile; Mapatano Mala Ali; Désiré Mashinda Kulimba, et al. The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2019, 5(6), 322-327. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo, Fulbert Kwilu Nappa, Pierre Akilimali Zalagile, Mapatano Mala Ali, Désiré Mashinda Kulimba, et al. The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2019;5(6):322-327. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25,
  author = {Paulin Beya Wa Bitadi Mutombo and Fulbert Kwilu Nappa and Pierre Akilimali Zalagile and Mapatano Mala Ali and Désiré Mashinda Kulimba and Jack Hyyombo Tambwe Kokolomami},
  title = {The Experience of Control Measures for Individuals Affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the North-eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {5},
  number = {6},
  pages = {322-327},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20190506.25},
  abstract = {To date, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is enduring its largest and longest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of control measures of Ebola outbreak. This was a qualitative study conducted in three health zones in three districts, namely- Katwa in Butembo city, Beni in Beni city and Mandima in Ituri Province. Thirty-eight participants were purposively selected. In-depth interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to report qualitative findings. The results of this study showed that participants’ experience of the EVD was marked by fear, fatality and mistrust of the response team rooted in the pre-existing distrust of the national authorities. The majority of participants strongly denied the existence of the Ebola virus considering it either as a political ploy to exterminate one ethnic group or as a scheme exaggerated for materialistic reasons. As a result, they showed hostile perception of control measures particularly the vaccination of contacts. However, during previous Ebola outbreaks in the DRC a positive perception of those measures was shown. We then concluded that Addressing the Ebola outbreak requires an adapted bottom-up communication that could help alleviate this lack of trust.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download