Pandemic preparedness: what difference does experience make?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Anthropology
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• The study was conducted in NG, Sierra Leone, a region severely impacted by the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak.
• The research site includes a Peripheral Health Unit (PHU) serving multiple villages, with one distant settlement lacking easy access to healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore community pandemic preparedness in a post-Ebola context in Sierra Leone.
• To understand local health-seeking behaviors and responses to emerging pandemic threats like COVID-19.
• To reflect on the experiences and challenges of female social scientists conducting ethnographic research in Sierra Leone.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic study utilizing long-term participant observation.
• The researcher lived within the community, integrating into local life and customs.
• Focus shifted to community understanding and response to COVID-19 during the study.

Main Results:

• The study provides insights into community resilience and adaptation in the face of recurrent infectious disease threats.
• It documents the community's evolving understanding and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Challenges for female social scientists in conducting ethnographic bio-social research in Sierra Leone are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Ethnographic research is crucial for understanding community-level pandemic preparedness and health-seeking behaviors.
• The study offers practical guidance for researchers, particularly female scientists, working in challenging socio-cultural contexts.
• Findings contribute to improving public health strategies and support for researchers in post-outbreak settings.