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How was Ebola stopped? Determining the role of risk communication and social mobilization during the outbreak in Sierra Leone

Striking in one of the world’s poorest countries, Ebola caused enormous human and economic losses in Sierra Leone, during and after the outbreak in 2014-2016. Risk communication and social mobilisation are powerful, but often overlooked tools in combating a disease outbreak. This research project aims to understand how these interventions work and how they influenced the epidemic curve, as they could be the key to dramatically alter the course of an infectious disease outbreak.Using a mix of quantitative, qualitative and quasi-experimental methods, the proposed studies will in four years assess the influence communication channels such as radio, governmental campaigns and community sources had on Ebola-specific knowledge, behaviour, risk perception and stigma. Furthermore, it will look at how risk communication affected the epidemic curve and interview journalists and stakeholders to determine what can be learned from this outbreak. An experiment in which radio journalists and an audience are asked to create and listen to stories of a hypothetical new disease outbreak, will give further insights into what kind of messages are effective.Collaborating with local and international actors in Sierra Leone and the USA, this project has the potential to gather evidence in a new combination of research fields and can produce practical recommendations for future health emergencies. This is of paramount importance so that a devastating outbreak of this magnitude will never be repeated.

Project ID

SE-0-SE-29-2017-05581_2-251-12182

Activity status

2 - Implementation

Aid type

D02 - Other technical assistance

% to Liberia

100.00

Organisations

Funding

Sweden

Extending

The Swedish Research Council

Implementing

Karolinska Institutet

CRS code	%
Medical research (12182)	100.0