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Monitoring and Evaluating the Ebola Response Effort in Two Liberian Communities

Journal of Community Health volume 43, pages 321–327 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Although credited with ultimately reducing incidence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa, little is known about the amount and kind of Ebola response activities associated with reducing the incidence of EVD. Our team monitored Ebola response activities and associated effects in two rural counties in Liberia highly affected by Ebola. We used a participatory monitoring and evaluation system, and drew upon key informant interviews and document review, to systematically capture, code, characterize, and communicate patterns in Ebola response activities. We reviewed situation reports to obtain data on incidence of EVD over time. Results showed enhanced implementation of Ebola response activities corresponded with decreased incidence of EVD. The pattern of staggered implementation of activities and associated effects—replicated in both counties—is suggestive of the role of Ebola response activities in reducing EVD. Systematic monitoring of response activities to control disease outbreaks holds lessons for implementing and evaluating multi-sector, comprehensive community health efforts.

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Acknowledgements

This study was made possible by the support of, and collaboration between, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas. The authors thank all those who worked to combat this terrible disease outbreak, as well as those who made this research possible.

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Affiliations

  1. World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo

    Davison Munodawafa, Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, Peter Malekele Phori & Ephraim Tafadzwa Chiriseri

  2. Center for Community Health and Development, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

    Stephen B. Fawcett, Ithar Hassaballa, Charles Sepers & Jerry A. Schultz

  3. Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

    Florence DiGennaro Reed

Authors
  1. Davison Munodawafa
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  2. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti
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  3. Peter Malekele Phori
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  4. Stephen B. Fawcett
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  5. Ithar Hassaballa
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  6. Charles Sepers
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  7. Florence DiGennaro Reed
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  8. Jerry A. Schultz
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  9. Ephraim Tafadzwa Chiriseri
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Contributions

All co-authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen B. Fawcett.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Munodawafa, D., Moeti, M.R., Phori, P.M. et al. Monitoring and Evaluating the Ebola Response Effort in Two Liberian Communities. J Community Health 43, 321–327 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0425-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0425-5

Keywords

  • Community implementation
  • Ebola response effort
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Community engagement
  • Health systems strengthening