Social and Behavioural Research
More than ever we are seeing an increasing number of new treatment and prevention therapies and interventions. Furthermore, we are also advancing our understanding of genomics and host factors associated with susceptibility to disease. While these inputs are incredibly important and promising for public health promotion, in order for healthcare developments to be fully effective often consideration must be given to multiple different levels. A comprehensive public health approach needs to incorporate knowledge ranging from the pathobiology of disease to the social and economic policies that affect exposure to risk as well as the attitudes and behaviors towards those risks. Adding these components can give critical information about the prevalence and incidence of disease along with associated non-biological factors which may be crucial for implementing effective mitigations strategies.
As the SEAICRN grows we wish to include such social and behavioral research components as part of our public health research. Three research ideas have been developed to explore behaviors and attitudes towards hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola. We would like to invite SEAICRN sites to join this research which will not only provide important information to help guide public health interventions but will also expand the capacity of the SEAICRN members to conduct this type of research. Any interested sites and investigators, please contact Janet Robinson at
Jrobinson@fhi360.org for further details.
1. ‘Assessment of Community Knowledge and Attitude towards Infectious Disease Epidemics in Asia’
Primary Objective: To describe community knowledge and attitudes in a hypothetical scenario of highly-pathogenic hemorrhagic fever or respiratory infection Southeast Asia.
For a summary of this study please click
here
Status: Protocol development and collaborating site recruitment
2. ‘Assessment of Stigma among and toward Health Care Workers during Infectious Disease Epidemics in Asia’
Primary Objective: To describe anticipated felt and enacted stigma among HCWs in a hypothetical scenario of highly-pathogenic hemorrhagic and respiratory infections among HCWs and develop a stigma scale appropriate to such an outbreak in Southeast Asia.
For a summary of this study please click
here
Status: Protocol development and collaborating site recruitment
3. ‘Heath Care Worker Personal Protective Equipment Knowledge Attitude & Practice Assessment’
Primary Objective: To assess current knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding using PPE in the setting of routine care and in a hypothetical scenario of highly-pathogenic hemorrhagic and respiratory infections among health care workers in Southeast Asia.
For a summary of this study please click
here
Status: Protocol development and collaborating site recruitment