The impact of traditional and religious practices on the spread of Ebola in West Africa: time for a strategic shift

Abstract

The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the largest ever recorded since the discovery of the virus. While several factors may have contributed to perpetuation of the viral spread among affected communities, the role of traditional and religious practices in the spread of the disease is unquestionable. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a majority of Ebola cases in some communities can be linked to traditional burial practices. Additionally, one of the major challenges in controlling the spread of the disease has been notable resistance against prescribed scientific ways of combating the transmission of Ebola in some affected communities for cultural and religious reasons. Herein, we identified notable religious and traditional practices in West Africa that potentially contributed to the spread of Ebola and exacerbated the current outbreak. We further discussed ways that the identified practices could be modified to levels that leave them within culturally acceptable standards and, at the same time, effective at preventing the spread of Ebola. One of our proposed strategies is deliberate targeting of leaders of traditional and religious institutions in community-directed preventive programs. It emerged from the current outbreak in West Africa that traditional and spiritual healers can significantly contribute to spreading of Ebola. We, thus, propose specifically targeting traditional and spiritual healers for awareness and increasing their collaboration with public health official in fighting against Ebola. It is our contention that traditional and spiritual healers and leaders can play a significant role in fostering mutual trust between health officials and affected communities. As custodians of cultural practices, traditional leaders can also play a significant role in promotion, monitoring, and implementation of prescribed preventive measures against the spread of Ebola.