Implications of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea: Qualitative findings to inform future health and nutrition-related responses

Kodish, Stephen; Rohner, Fabian; Beauliere, Jean Max; Daffé, Mamady; Ayoya, Mohamed Ag; Wirth, James P.; Ngnie‐Teta, Ismael

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202468

Cited by 22 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Similar studies had previously examined fewer aspects of lifestyle, such as social support, sleep pattern, and diet/nutrition. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 30 To our knowledge, the present report is the first observational survey that examined a wide range of lifestyle changes during home self-isolation. The SMILE-C aligns with contemporary, official definitions of lifestyle as a multidimensional construct.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The assessment of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic using a multidimensional scale

Balanzá‐Martínez

Kapczinski

Cardoso

et al. 2021

Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental

148

123

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Introduction Healthy lifestyles are relevant to several diseases and to maintain individuals’ mental health. Exposure to epidemics and confinement have been consistently associated with psychological consequences, but changes on lifestyle behaviours remain under-researched. Materials and Methods An online survey was conducted among the general population living in Spain during the COVID-19 home-isolation. In addition to demographic and clinical data, participants self-reported changes in seven lifestyle domains. The Short Multidimensional Inventory Lifestyle Evaluation was developed specifically to evaluate changes during the confinement (SMILE-C). Results A total of 1254 individuals completed the survey over the first week of data collection. The internal consistency of the SMILE-C to assess lifestyles during confinement was shown (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.747). Most participants reported substantial changes on outdoor time (93.6%) and physical activity (70.2%). Moreover, about one third of subjects reported significant changes on stress management, social support, and restorative sleep. Several demographic and clinical factors were associated to lifestyle scores. In the multivariate model, those independently associated with a healthier lifestyle included substantial changes on stress management ( p < 0.001), social support ( p = 0.001) and outdoor time ( p < 0.001), amongst others. In contrast, being an essential worker ( p = 0.001), worse self-rated health ( p < 0.001), a positive screening for depression/anxiety ( p < 0.001), and substantial changes on diet/nutrition ( p < 0.001) and sleep ( p < 0.001) were all associated with poorer lifestyles. Conclusions In this study, sizable proportions of participants reported meaningful changes in lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Moreover, the SMILE-C was sensitive to detect these changes and presented good initial psychometric properties. Further follow-up studies should collect relevant data to promote healthy lifestyles in pandemic times.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The assessment of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic using a multidimensional scale

Balanzá‐Martínez

Kapczinski

Cardoso

et al. 2021

Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental

148

123

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“…However, this was aimed for a minority of the caseload in ETUs and had a significant focus on the use of specialized products, generally used for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition [8]. Kodish et al interviewed key-informants to describe the acceptability and effectiveness of nutrition-specific response among community members and health professionals, but this was not related to care within ETUs itself [3].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Through key informant (KI) interviews, Kodish et al reviewed the use of three interim guidelines coissued by WHO in Guinea including the iGL. However, the findings were not specifically linked to this 2014 iGL [3]. A previous literature review found a limited number of publications on specific nutritional care in ETUs that often lacked detailed descriptions of the actual nutritional care provided (Ververs/Gabra to be submitted for publication).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Nutritional care for patients with Ebola Virus Disease in Ebola treatment units – past and current experiences from practitioners

Ververs¹,

Anantharam²

2019

Preprint

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Background In November 2014, the World health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with UNICEF, and the World Food Programme, produced interim guidelines (iGL) on providing nutritional support to patients in Ebola treatment units (ETUs). They have been translated into French and issued by the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO in adapted versions to be used in the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This paper evaluates the use and usefulness of the 2014 iGL in the West Africa and current DRC Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks and identifies experiences and lessons learned from practitioners on the operational aspects of nutritional care and support in ETUs. Methods Key-informants (n=26), from 12 organizations (Non Governmental Organizations, United Nations, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement) were interviewed who were actively engaged in the nutritional and/or clinical care of EVD patients. Results There was a consensus among key informants that the 2014 iGL initially served a guiding purpose. However, the vast amount of learning from the 2014-2016 and current EVD outbreaks indicates that the interim guidelines need to be revised. Practitioners struggled to find operational solutions for nutritional care, and the challenges were plentiful, especially regarding 1) the different perceptions of the importance of nutritional care among ETU staff; 2) the difficulties around food preparation and distribution for EVD patients; 3) how to take into account the patients’ dietary preferences; 4) the nutritional care needed in relation to specific EVD symptoms; 5) who assumed roles in nutritional care in ETUs; 6) if and how feeding support was organized; 7) whether malnutrition needed to be addressed and how; and 8) whether the intake of specific nutrients could contribute to improved treatment outcomes. Information from the key-informants interviews resulted in numerous lessons learned and recommendations for nutritional support during current and future outbreaks. Conclusions This investigation underscored the importance of documenting experiences of practitioners on nutritional care in emerging infectious diseases for which limited scientific evidence exists and for which interim guidelines are produced to fill in knowledge gaps. It also emphasized the importance of nutritional care in ETUs during treatment.

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“…This participatory study was designed as the final phase in a multi-phased, qualitative study conducted in Guinea and Sierra Leone. This phase had two primary objectives: (1) to provide a forum for presenting qualitative interview findings to stakeholders for their feedback and corroboration, and (2) to build consensus around priority areas that had been identified through previous qualitative work (Kodish et al , 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings from the NGT workshops were triangulated with semi-structured, qualitative interview data previously collected by the research team among organizational stakeholders and community members in both Guinea ( n = 27) and Sierra Leone ( n = 42). Those methods have been explained in detail elsewhere (Kodish et al , 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consensus building around nutrition lessons from the 2014–16 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea and Sierra Leone

Kodish¹,

Simen-Kapeu

Beauliere

et al. 2019

Health Policy and Planning

Self Cite

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There are important lessons learned from the 2014–16 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa. However, there has not been a systematic documentation of nutrition lessons specifically. Therefore, this study sought to generate multiple stakeholder perspectives for understanding the nutrition challenges faced during the Ebola virus disease outbreak, as well as for consensus building around improved response strategies. Participatory workshops with 17 and 19 participants in Guinea and Sierra Leone, respectively, were conducted in February 2017. Workshops followed the Nominal Group Technique, which is a methodological approach for idea generation and consensus building among diverse participants. Those findings were triangulated with qualitative interview data from participants representing government, United Nations bodies, civil society, non-governmental organizations and local communities in both Guinea ( n = 27) and Sierra Leone ( n = 42). (1) Reduced health system access and utilization, Poor caretaking and infant and young child feeding practices , Implementation challenges during nutrition response, Household food insecurity and Changing breastfeeding practices were five nutrition challenges identified in both Guinea and Sierra Leone. (2) Between settings, 14 distinct and 11 shared organizational factors emerged as facilitators to this response. In Sierra Leone, participants identified the Use of Standard Operating Procedures and Psychosocial counselling , whereas in Guinea, Hygiene assistance was distinctly important. Political will, Increased funding, Food assistance and to a lesser extent, Enhanced coordination , were deemed ‘most important’ response factors. (3) The top nutrition lessons learned were diverse, reflecting those of nutrition policy, programme implementation, community activity and household behaviours. Disease outbreaks pose widespread nutrition challenges to populations in resource-constrained settings where global health security is not a guarantee. These findings should be considered for emergency nutrition preparedness and inform evidence-based priority setting in the post-Ebola virus context of Guinea and Sierra Leone.

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Implications of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea: Qualitative findings to inform future health and nutrition-related responses

Cited by 22 publications

References 35 publications

The assessment of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic using a multidimensional scale

The assessment of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic using a multidimensional scale

Nutritional care for patients with Ebola Virus Disease in Ebola treatment units – past and current experiences from practitioners

Consensus building around nutrition lessons from the 2014–16 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea and Sierra Leone

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