ArticleBMJ global health2025
Barriers to community engagement during the response to an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda.
Article in BMJ global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Learning from Ebola Alerts in the Pandemic Agreement Era: Preparedness, Trust, and Shared Responsibility.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Ebola virus disease in the modern era: pathogenesis, therapeutic advances, vaccine strategies, and global health preparedness.Infection · 2026Review
- Ebola at a critical juncture: preparedness must outpace transmission.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2026Article
- From reactive trials to regional vaccine sovereignty: a pan-ebolavirus vaccine-readiness framework for East Africa's Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus threats.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness in Subnational Health Systems: A Readiness Assessment of Jinja District, Uganda.Journal of tropical medicine · 2026Article
- Culture, context and crisis: understanding community engagement in Ghana's Ashanti and Northern regions amid COVID-19 - a qualitative study.BMJ public health · 2025Article
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Abstract
backgroundUganda 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.
methodsThis 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).
resultsThe 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.
conclusionThe 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.
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