The effects of corrective information about disease epidemics and outbreaks: Evidence from Zika and yellow fever in Brazil

Abstract

Disease epidemics and outbreaks often generate conspiracy theories and misperceptions that mislead people about the risks they face and how best to protect themselves. We investigate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at combating false and unsupported information about the Zika epidemic and subsequent yellow fever outbreak in Brazil. Results from a nationally representative survey show that conspiracy theories and other misperceptions about Zika are widely believed. Moreover, results from three preregistered survey experiments suggest that efforts to counter misperceptions about diseases during epidemics and outbreaks may not always be effective. We find that corrective information not only fails to reduce targeted Zika misperceptions but also reduces the accuracy of other beliefs about the disease. In addition, although corrective information about the better-known threat from yellow fever was more effective, none of these corrections affected support for vector control policies or intentions to engage in preventive behavior.

Fig. 1. Zika disease beliefs and conspiracy theory endorsement (representative survey).

Means and 95% confidence intervals from the Brazil wave of the 2016 and 2017 AmericasBarometer survey (n = 1532; 5 April to 11 May 2017). “T” and “F” indicate true and false, respectively, for the outcome measures.