This report is the third instalment of the ‘Social Science in Epidemics’ series, commissioned by the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Direct Assistance (OFDA). In this series, past outbreaks are reviewed in order to identify social science ‘entry points’ for emergency interventions and preparedness activities. The aim is to determine tangible ways to address the […]
Cultural practices and beliefs
13 documents
Ebola Preparedness and Traditional Healers in South Sudan
This review focuses on the evidence on Ebola preparedness in South Sudan through an anthropological lens, looking at informal and traditional health care systems. It presents the evidence on how these can be utilised for surveillance, behaviour change communication, and vaccinations in the case of an Ebola outbreak, including: establishing surveillance of these services and […]
Social Science and Behavioural Data Compilation – November 2018
This rapid compilation of data analyses provides a ‘stock-take’ of social science and behavioural data related to the outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Based on data gathered and analysed by organisations working in the region, we aimed to explore convergences and divergences between datasets and, when possible, differences by geographic area, […]
Social Science in Epidemics: Ebola Virus Disease Lessons Learned
This report is the second instalment of the ‘Social Science in Epidemics’ series, commissioned by the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Direct Assistance (OFDA). In this series past outbreaks are reviewed in order to identify social science ‘entry points’ for emergency interventions and preparedness activities. The aim is to determine tangible ways to address the […]
Social Science in Epidemics: Cholera Lessons Learned
This report is the first instalment of the ‘Social Science in Epidemics’ series, commissioned by the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Direct Assistance (OFDA). In this series, past outbreaks are reviewed in order to identify social science ‘entry points’ for emergency interventions and preparedness activities. The aim is to determine tangible ways to address the […]
Cultural Practices on Burial and Care for the Sick in South Sudan
Literature on cultural practices for burial and care for the sick among individual ethnic groups in South Sudan was very limited. However, it clearly points to the importance of proper burials among all ethnic groups: these typically entail washing the body of the deceased; it can take several days before burial takes place; and graves […]
Considérations Clés : la Situation de la Province du Nord-Kivu en RDC
Cette note stratégique résume les considérations clés inhérentes au contexte de la province du Nord-Kivu par rapport à la flambée épidémique du virus Ébola en RDC en août 2018. La province du Nord-Kivu possède six territoires : le Beni, le Lubero, le Masisi, le Nyiragongo, le Rutshuru et le Walikale. À cette date, des cas […]
Considérations Clés: Inhumation, Funérailles et Pratiques de Deuil dans la Province de l’Équateur, RDC
Cette note stratégique résume les problèmes sociaux-culturels clés liés à des événements en rapport avec les décès, l’inhumation, les funérailles, (rites ou cérémonies), et le deuil dans le contexte de la flambée épidémique d’Ébola en RDC, en juin 2018. Une analyse plus complète devrait être faite, mais en raison de la transmission qui se poursuit, […]
Socio-Cultural Considerations for Vaccine Introduction and Community Engagement
This brief summarises key socio-cultural issues related to the introduction of vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV) to the DRC in relation to the Ebola outbreak, May 2018. A deeper dive should be undertaken, but given the imminent introduction of the vaccine, conveying key considerations and immediate recommendations, particularly for community engagement, has been prioritised. Informal discussions have been […]
Key Considerations: Burial, Funeral and Mourning Practices in Équateur Province, DRC
This brief summarises key socio-cultural considerations concerning events related to death, burial, funerals (rites or ceremonies), and mourning in the context of the outbreak of Ebola in the DRC, June 2018. Further participatory inquiry should be undertaken, but given ongoing transmission, conveying key considerations and immediate recommendations for safe and dignified burial practices and related […]
