Key Considerations: Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures in Greater Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

This brief sets out key considerations for risk communications and community engagement (RCCE) to promote adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures in greater Kampala, Uganda. It looks at adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, assesses the challenges to their adoption and outlines key considerations for partners working in RCCE and the wider COVID-19 emergency response. The brief responds to concern (as of March 2022) about COVID-19 transmission in informal urban areas in Uganda due to their high population density, limited sanitary infrastructure, and reported low uptake of vaccination. Ensuring effective communication and engagement with a series of preventative measures is essential in limiting the spread of COVID-19. The Ministry of Health and response partners have been proactive, however interventions and guidance for COVID-19 have taken limited account of social science research about the perceptions and practices related to COVID-19 regulations. This brief aims to address this gap so these data may be used to inform more effective and practicable guidance for vulnerable groups. This brief draws primarily on an analysis of existing scientific and grey literature. Additional primary data was collected through consultation with six social science and RCCE experts who focus on this geographical area. The brief was requested by UNICEF Uganda in consultation with the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) RCCE subcommittee and the RCCE technical working group for the Eastern and South Africa region (ESAR). It was developed for SSHAP by Theresa Jones (Anthrologica) and supported by Elizabeth Storer (London School of Economics), with contributions and reviews by colleagues at Anthrologica, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), UNICEF ESARO and Uganda, Makerere University, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Dreamline Products and the IFRC.