Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda
Background Uganda reported an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in 2022. As part of the outbreak response, government and partners promoted community engagement, which seeks to involve communities in the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions to raise awareness, build trust betwe...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/3/e017285.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849394937471172608 |
|---|---|
| author | Ann Robins David Musoke Henry Mwebesa Edwinah Atusingwize George Upenytho Seungwoo Nam Jesse Bonwitt Chimwemwe Msukwa Meddy Rutayisire Henry Kyobe |
| author_facet | Ann Robins David Musoke Henry Mwebesa Edwinah Atusingwize George Upenytho Seungwoo Nam Jesse Bonwitt Chimwemwe Msukwa Meddy Rutayisire Henry Kyobe |
| author_sort | Ann Robins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Uganda reported an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in 2022. As part of the outbreak response, government and partners promoted community engagement, which seeks to involve communities in the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions to raise awareness, build trust between communities and partners and create ownership of interventions. This study, therefore, explored barriers to community engagement during the 2022-2023 EVD outbreak response in Uganda.Methods This qualitative study, conducted in five districts (Kampala, Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Mubende and Wakiso), involved 25 focus group discussions among community members and community health workers (CHWs). In addition, 32 key informant interviews were conducted with staff from the Uganda Ministry of Health, district health officials, local leaders, non-governmental organisation staff and other stakeholders. Data were analysed according to the thematic approach using ATLAS.ti (V.6).Results The main barriers to community engagement identified during the EVD outbreak response are presented under four main themes: (1) delayed consultations between partners and communities; (2) poor communication and misinformation; (3) limited support to human resources; and (4) institutional and coordination challenges. Specifically, these barriers included: limited consultation due to misbelief in community roles; delayed sociocultural discussions; stigma and delayed psychosocial interventions; misinformation, rumours and political influence; poor communication mechanisms; contradictory messages and lack of transparency; language barrier and inappropriate communication media; work overload for CHWs and other community volunteers; failure to prioritise protection of community workers; lack of compensation for CHWs and other community personnel; poor logistical management; inadequate coordination and partner operations; unfavourable institutional structures; and limited funding for emergencies.Conclusion The barriers encountered in community engagement during the 2022-2023 EVD outbreak need to be addressed through strengthening guidelines and standard operating procedures, capacity building for partners and communities, as well as adequate financing to ensure Uganda is better prepared for future health emergencies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a49d3607de9447192eecb161de7b57a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a49d3607de9447192eecb161de7b57a2025-08-20T03:39:49ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082025-03-0110310.1136/bmjgh-2024-017285Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in UgandaAnn Robins0David Musoke1Henry Mwebesa2Edwinah Atusingwize3George Upenytho4Seungwoo Nam5Jesse Bonwitt6Chimwemwe Msukwa7Meddy Rutayisire8Henry Kyobe9UNICEF, Kampala, Uganda3 School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaClinical services, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda, UgandaDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaUNICEF, Kampala, UgandaUNICEF, Kampala, UgandaUNICEF, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaBackground Uganda reported an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in 2022. As part of the outbreak response, government and partners promoted community engagement, which seeks to involve communities in the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions to raise awareness, build trust between communities and partners and create ownership of interventions. This study, therefore, explored barriers to community engagement during the 2022-2023 EVD outbreak response in Uganda.Methods This qualitative study, conducted in five districts (Kampala, Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Mubende and Wakiso), involved 25 focus group discussions among community members and community health workers (CHWs). In addition, 32 key informant interviews were conducted with staff from the Uganda Ministry of Health, district health officials, local leaders, non-governmental organisation staff and other stakeholders. Data were analysed according to the thematic approach using ATLAS.ti (V.6).Results The main barriers to community engagement identified during the EVD outbreak response are presented under four main themes: (1) delayed consultations between partners and communities; (2) poor communication and misinformation; (3) limited support to human resources; and (4) institutional and coordination challenges. Specifically, these barriers included: limited consultation due to misbelief in community roles; delayed sociocultural discussions; stigma and delayed psychosocial interventions; misinformation, rumours and political influence; poor communication mechanisms; contradictory messages and lack of transparency; language barrier and inappropriate communication media; work overload for CHWs and other community volunteers; failure to prioritise protection of community workers; lack of compensation for CHWs and other community personnel; poor logistical management; inadequate coordination and partner operations; unfavourable institutional structures; and limited funding for emergencies.Conclusion The barriers encountered in community engagement during the 2022-2023 EVD outbreak need to be addressed through strengthening guidelines and standard operating procedures, capacity building for partners and communities, as well as adequate financing to ensure Uganda is better prepared for future health emergencies.https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/3/e017285.full |
| spellingShingle | Ann Robins David Musoke Henry Mwebesa Edwinah Atusingwize George Upenytho Seungwoo Nam Jesse Bonwitt Chimwemwe Msukwa Meddy Rutayisire Henry Kyobe Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda BMJ Global Health |
| title | Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda |
| title_full | Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda |
| title_short | Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda |
| title_sort | barriers to community engagement during the response to an ebola virus disease outbreak in uganda |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/3/e017285.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annrobins barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT davidmusoke barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT henrymwebesa barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT edwinahatusingwize barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT georgeupenytho barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT seungwoonam barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT jessebonwitt barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT chimwemwemsukwa barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT meddyrutayisire barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda AT henrykyobe barrierstocommunityengagementduringtheresponsetoanebolavirusdiseaseoutbreakinuganda |