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Evaluation of the Stigmatization of Ebola Survivors Four (4) Years After the Epidemic in the Special Zone of Conakry from 2016 to 2020

Received: 21 August 2022     Accepted: 27 September 2022     Published: 21 October 2022
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Abstract

Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a haemorrhagic fever considered as an emerging infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality. In 2013-2016 the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic affected Guinea and thousands of people in Guinea were infected with the devastating virus and survived. EVD has spread to neighbouring countries, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and a difficult situation for the victims, including stigmatization. Years after the epidemic ended, stigma towards EVD survivors still remains a major concern. This study aimed to assess the stigmatization of Ebola survivors four (4) years after the epidemic in the special zone of Conakry. Methodology: this was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study that focused on all the survivors from the database of the national health security agency, using "Epi data 3.1" software. and “SPSS 21” for logistic regression and univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 130 Ebola survivors out of a total of 267 participated in our study, including 69 men and 61 women, the average age was 31 years ± 13.02 with extremes (Min= 6 years; Max= 70 years). The forms of stigma observed were rejection by family (49%), rejection by family and spouse (22%), and rejection by the health worker (8%). The level of education is the only factor linked to stigmatization (p=0.023). Conclusion: Rejection by surrounding and spouse were highest among EVD survivors, education level being the only factor related to stigma. Sensitization of the community and relatives of Ebola survivors should be considered by EVD teams in Guinea to stop the stigma.

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 8, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14
Page(s) 213-216
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ebola, Survivors, Stigma, Conakry, Guinea

References
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[3] Abbate JL, Murall CL, Richner H, Althaus CL. Potential Impact of Sexual Transmission on Ebola Virus Epidemiology: Sierra Leone as a Case Study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016; 10 (5): e0004676.
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[5] Vernet M-A, Reynard S, Fizet A, Schaeffer J, Pannetier D, Guedj J, et al. Clinical, virological, and biological parameters associated with outcomes of Ebola virus infection in Macenta, Guinea. JCI Insight. 23 2017; 2 (6): e88864.
[6] Jalloh MF, Bunnell R, Robinson S, Jalloh MB, Barry AM, Corker J, et al. Assessments of Ebola knowledge, attitudes and practices in Forécariah, Guinea and Kambia, Sierra Leone, July-August 2015. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 26 mai 2017; 372 (1721).
[7] Kerber R, Krumkamp R, Diallo B, Jaeger A, Rudolf M, Lanini S, et al. Analysis of Diagnostic Findings From the European Mobile Laboratory in Guéckédou, Guinea, March 2014 Through March 2015. J Infect Dis. 15 2016; 214 (suppl 3): S250 7.
[8] Kibadi K, Mupapa K, Kuvula K, Massamba M, Ndaberey D, Muyembe-Tamfum JJ, et al. Late ophthalmologic manifestations in survivors of the 1995 Ebola virus epidemic in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo. J Infect Dis. févr 1999; 179 Suppl 1: S13-14.
[9] Molecular Evidence of Sexual Transmission of Ebola Virus. - PubMed - NCBI [Internet]. [cité 16 juill 2019]. Disponible sur: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26465384?dopt=Abstract
[10] Dowell SF, Mukunu R, Ksiazek TG, Khan AS, Rollin PE, Peters CJ. Transmission of Ebola hemorrhagic fever: a study of risk factors in family members, Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995. Commission de Lutte contre les Epidémies à Kikwit. J Infect Dis. févr 1999; 179 Suppl 1: S87-91.
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[13] De Roo A, Ado B, Rose B, Guimard Y, Fonck K, Colebunders R. Survey among survivors of the 1995 Ebola epidemic in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo: their feelings and experiences. Trop Med Int Health TM IH. nov 1998; 3 (11): 883 5.
[14] Lindblade KA, Nyenswah T, Keita S, Diallo B, Kateh F, Amoah A, et al. Secondary Infections with Ebola Virus in Rural Communities, Liberia and Guinea, 2014-2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016; 22 (9): 1653 5.
[15] Mohammed A, Sheikh TL, Gidado S, Poggensee G, Nguku P, Olayinka A, et al. An evaluation of psychological distress and social support of survivors and contacts of Ebola virus disease infection and their relatives in Lagos, Nigeria: a cross sectional study--2014. BMC Public Health. 27 août 2015; 15: 824.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sadou Sow, Alpha Oumar Diallo, Abdoulaye Sow, Kevin Yohou Sylvestre, Manengu Casimir Tshikolasoni, et al. (2022). Evaluation of the Stigmatization of Ebola Survivors Four (4) Years After the Epidemic in the Special Zone of Conakry from 2016 to 2020. Central African Journal of Public Health, 8(5), 213-216. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14

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    ACS Style

    Sadou Sow; Alpha Oumar Diallo; Abdoulaye Sow; Kevin Yohou Sylvestre; Manengu Casimir Tshikolasoni, et al. Evaluation of the Stigmatization of Ebola Survivors Four (4) Years After the Epidemic in the Special Zone of Conakry from 2016 to 2020. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2022, 8(5), 213-216. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14

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    AMA Style

    Sadou Sow, Alpha Oumar Diallo, Abdoulaye Sow, Kevin Yohou Sylvestre, Manengu Casimir Tshikolasoni, et al. Evaluation of the Stigmatization of Ebola Survivors Four (4) Years After the Epidemic in the Special Zone of Conakry from 2016 to 2020. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2022;8(5):213-216. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14,
      author = {Sadou Sow and Alpha Oumar Diallo and Abdoulaye Sow and Kevin Yohou Sylvestre and Manengu Casimir Tshikolasoni and Dadja Essoya Landoh and Mouctar Kande and Katende Ntumba Alain and Boubacar Sow and Jean Konan Kouame and Mamadou Alpha Diallo and Mamadou Mouctar Balde and Ahmadou Barry and Kadiata Bah and Mandian Camara and Amadou Bailo Diallo and Mamadou Oury Balde},
      title = {Evaluation of the Stigmatization of Ebola Survivors Four (4) Years After the Epidemic in the Special Zone of Conakry from 2016 to 2020},
      journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {8},
      number = {5},
      pages = {213-216},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20220805.14},
      abstract = {Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a haemorrhagic fever considered as an emerging infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality. In 2013-2016 the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic affected Guinea and thousands of people in Guinea were infected with the devastating virus and survived. EVD has spread to neighbouring countries, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and a difficult situation for the victims, including stigmatization. Years after the epidemic ended, stigma towards EVD survivors still remains a major concern. This study aimed to assess the stigmatization of Ebola survivors four (4) years after the epidemic in the special zone of Conakry. Methodology: this was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study that focused on all the survivors from the database of the national health security agency, using "Epi data 3.1" software. and “SPSS 21” for logistic regression and univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 130 Ebola survivors out of a total of 267 participated in our study, including 69 men and 61 women, the average age was 31 years ± 13.02 with extremes (Min= 6 years; Max= 70 years). The forms of stigma observed were rejection by family (49%), rejection by family and spouse (22%), and rejection by the health worker (8%). The level of education is the only factor linked to stigmatization (p=0.023). Conclusion: Rejection by surrounding and spouse were highest among EVD survivors, education level being the only factor related to stigma. Sensitization of the community and relatives of Ebola survivors should be considered by EVD teams in Guinea to stop the stigma.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Evaluation of the Stigmatization of Ebola Survivors Four (4) Years After the Epidemic in the Special Zone of Conakry from 2016 to 2020
    AU  - Sadou Sow
    AU  - Alpha Oumar Diallo
    AU  - Abdoulaye Sow
    AU  - Kevin Yohou Sylvestre
    AU  - Manengu Casimir Tshikolasoni
    AU  - Dadja Essoya Landoh
    AU  - Mouctar Kande
    AU  - Katende Ntumba Alain
    AU  - Boubacar Sow
    AU  - Jean Konan Kouame
    AU  - Mamadou Alpha Diallo
    AU  - Mamadou Mouctar Balde
    AU  - Ahmadou Barry
    AU  - Kadiata Bah
    AU  - Mandian Camara
    AU  - Amadou Bailo Diallo
    AU  - Mamadou Oury Balde
    Y1  - 2022/10/21
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14
    T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 213
    EP  - 216
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5781
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20220805.14
    AB  - Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a haemorrhagic fever considered as an emerging infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality. In 2013-2016 the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic affected Guinea and thousands of people in Guinea were infected with the devastating virus and survived. EVD has spread to neighbouring countries, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and a difficult situation for the victims, including stigmatization. Years after the epidemic ended, stigma towards EVD survivors still remains a major concern. This study aimed to assess the stigmatization of Ebola survivors four (4) years after the epidemic in the special zone of Conakry. Methodology: this was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study that focused on all the survivors from the database of the national health security agency, using "Epi data 3.1" software. and “SPSS 21” for logistic regression and univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 130 Ebola survivors out of a total of 267 participated in our study, including 69 men and 61 women, the average age was 31 years ± 13.02 with extremes (Min= 6 years; Max= 70 years). The forms of stigma observed were rejection by family (49%), rejection by family and spouse (22%), and rejection by the health worker (8%). The level of education is the only factor linked to stigmatization (p=0.023). Conclusion: Rejection by surrounding and spouse were highest among EVD survivors, education level being the only factor related to stigma. Sensitization of the community and relatives of Ebola survivors should be considered by EVD teams in Guinea to stop the stigma.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Department of medicine, Chair of Public Health, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

  • Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Department of medicine, Chair of Public Health, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Department of medicine, Chair of Public Health, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Department of medicine, Chair of Public Health, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

  • Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Department of medicine, Chair of Public Health, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

  • Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Department of medicine, Chair of Public Health, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

  • World Health Organization, Dakar Office, Dakar, Senegal

  • World Health Organization, WHO Guinea Office, Conakry, Guinea

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