Paper short abstract:

A qualitative study was done to understand community perspectives on attitudes, norms and practices related to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. The key findings highlight the importance of the role that communities have played in the Ebola response.

Paper long abstract:

As reports of reduced incidence of Ebola infection in Lofa County surfaced in October 2015, there were concerns among international agencies as to the underreporting of Ebola cases and deaths. Considering the widespread misconceptions surrounding Ebola that fueled, it was reasonable to assume that many cases of the infection went unreported. Within this context the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs assisted the Government of Liberia and its partners, not to verify or validate claims about the reduction in incidence counties, but to assess differences in community perceptions and varied responses to Ebola across the three counties of Lofa, Bong and Monteserrado. The study used key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a timeline analysis to unpack and understand attitudes, norms and practices that have changed throughout the course of the response taking into account active community readiness and resourcing towards collective efficacy, prevention and care. Data was collected from a total of 39 key informants and 14 focus groups in the three counties. Key findings discuss the crucial role that communities have played in the response and reduction of cases: through the involvement of community and religious leaders, as well as the formation of task forces through existing community structures, leading to effective mobilization efforts prior to the scale up of formal Ebola social mobilization efforts. The importance of situating this knowledge from the viewpoint of the local communities and using their existing social structures for all forms of the Ebola response is highlighted.