Protective Behaviors Associated With Gender During the 2018-2020 Ebola Outbreak in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Findings suggest that it is critical to design gender-sensitive communication and vaccination strategies
Abstract
In 2018 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced the world’s second largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, killing 2290 individuals. Women were disproportionately infected despite no evidence of differential biological EVD risk.
This study assessed whether men and women differ in personal protective behaviours (vaccine acceptance, health-seeking behaviours, physical distancing) and the mediating role of EVD information and knowledge, perceived disease risk, and social relations. It found gender differences in adopting all three behaviours. Male participants reported greater EVD knowledge which was associated with increases in vaccine acceptance, formal care seeking and self-protective behaviours.
These findings suggest that it is critical to design gender-sensitive communication and vaccination strategies, while engaging women and their community in any response to infectious disease outbreaks including COVID-19. Research on the potential link between gender and socio-demographic factors associated with disease risk and outcomes is needed.
This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme
Citation
Pham PN, Sharma M, Bindu KK, et al. Protective Behaviors Associated With Gender During the 2018-2020 Ebola Outbreak in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2):e2147462. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.47462