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Kusena P, Metta E, Mohamed H, Kakoko D, Nyamhanga T, Bahuguna S, Sirili N, Kinanda J, Araya A, Mwiru A, Magesa S, Makene L, Rwechungura A, Kirakoya FB, Rangi J, Kileo N, Mlembwa J, Kazaura M, Mpelembe C, Frumence G. "If I die for touching him, let me die": a rapid ethnographic assessment of cultural practices and Ebola transmission in high-risk border regions of Tanzania. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1838. [PMID: 38982379 PMCID: PMC11234704 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19316-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare but contagious disease caused by Ebola Virus (EBOV). The first Ebola outbreaks were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before subsequent reported cases in Western and East African countries, including Uganda, which borders Tanzania. Proximity to EVD-infected countries raises the prospect of cross-border transmission, raising alarm in Tanzania. This study aimed to explore the cultural practices likely to prevent or escalate EVD transmission in the event of its outbreak in the country. METHODS This rapid ethnographic assessment employed observation, interviews, and focus group discussions to collect data from people with diverse characteristics in five regions of Tanzania Mainland namely, Kagera, Kigoma, Mwanza and Songwe regions and Zanzibar Island. The qualitative data was then subjected to thematic analysis. FINDINGS Cultural practices may escalate the transmission of EVD and hinder its prevention and control. These cultural practices include caring sick people at home, confirmation of death, mourning, and body preparation for burial. Communal life, ceremonies, and social gatherings were other aspects observed to have the potential for compounding EVD transmission and hindering its containment in case of an outbreak. CONCLUSION Cultural practices may escalate EVD transmission as identified in the study settings. As such, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities should be interventionist in transforming cultural practices that may escalate the spread of EVD as part of preparedness, prevention, and control efforts in the event of an outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Kusena
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Emmy Metta
- Department of Behavioral Science, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Hussein Mohamed
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Deodatus Kakoko
- Department of Behavioral Science, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Tumaini Nyamhanga
- Depatment of Development Studies, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Shalini Bahuguna
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Nathanael Sirili
- Depatment of Development Studies, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jonas Kinanda
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35043, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Awet Araya
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Alice Mwiru
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Stanley Magesa
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Lulu Makene
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Allan Rwechungura
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fatimata B Kirakoya
- UNICEF, Plot 133 Karume Road, Oyster Bay, P.O. Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jaliath Rangi
- WHO, Luthuli Street, P.O. Box 9292, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Neema Kileo
- WHO, Luthuli Street, P.O. Box 9292, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jerry Mlembwa
- WHO, Luthuli Street, P.O. Box 9292, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Method Kazaura
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Chipole Mpelembe
- President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Government City- Mtumba, TAMISEMI Street, P.O. Box 1923, Dodoma, 41185, Tanzania
| | - Gasto Frumence
- Depatment of Development Studies, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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