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. 2022 Apr 13;19(8):4714.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19084714.

Misconceptions and Rumors about Ebola Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Basilua Andre Muzembo  1 , Ngangu Patrick Ntontolo  2   3 , Nlandu Roger Ngatu  4 , Januka Khatiwada  5 , Tomoko Suzuki  6 , Koji Wada  6 , Kei Kitahara  1   7 , Shunya Ikeda  6 , Shin-Ichi Miyoshi  1
Affiliations

Misconceptions and Rumors about Ebola Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Basilua Andre Muzembo et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

We sought to summarize knowledge, misconceptions, beliefs, and practices about Ebola that might impede the control of Ebola outbreaks in Africa. We searched Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Google Scholar (through May 2019) for publications reporting on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to Ebola in Africa. In total, 14 of 433 articles were included. Knowledge was evaluated in all 14 articles, and they all highlighted that there are misconceptions and risk behaviors during an Ebola outbreak. Some communities believed that Ebola spreads through the air, mosquito bites, malice from foreign doctors, witchcraft, and houseflies. Because patients believe that Ebola was caused by witchcraft, they sought help from traditional healers. Some people believed that Ebola could be prevented by bathing with salt or hot water. Burial practices where people touch Ebola-infected corpses were common, especially among Muslims. Discriminatory attitudes towards Ebola survivors or their families were also prevalent. Some Ebola survivors were not accepted back in their communities; the possibility of being ostracized from their neighborhoods was high and Ebola survivors had to lead a difficult social life. Most communities affected by Ebola need more comprehensive knowledge on Ebola. Efforts are needed to address misconceptions and risk behaviors surrounding Ebola for future outbreak preparedness in Africa.

Keywords: Ebola; attitudes; beliefs; knowledge; misperceptions; practices; rumors; sub-Saharan Africa.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2
Country of origin of the included studies (n = 14). DRC = Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart summarizing study evidence search and selection.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Selected socio-demographic data of the included studies (n = 14).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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