Cross-Sectional Study Assessing the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Community towards Ebola Virus Disease in an Urban Setting in Western Uganda

Abstract

Background: Epidemics are devastating as they cause mortality, and morbidity and are associated with a lot of stigma. Uganda experienced an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) for 4 months from September 2022 to January 2023. Ebola Virus, from the filoviridae family, is a highly contagious viral hemorrhagic infection with a mortality rate of up to 90%. Of 164 cases, 18 were health workers, of whom 7 died. Health professions students formed a part of these health workers, and are frontline providers in managing epidemics through community interventions such as prevention, preparedness, and emergency response. They are often involved in initial clinical care, and are also custodians of knowledge, availing a large workforce that can be leveraged amongst their non-medical communities. This project targeted prevention, preparedness, and response to the current and future EVD epidemics within Mbarara through capacity building and information sharing led by health professional students.