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Global Health Econ Sustain Attributes of Ebola epidemic in West Africa

According to the WHO, regular handwashing with associated with the infection. Fear, stemming from limited
soap and water, along with good hand hygiene and a education among community members, acts as a significant
clean environment, are essential for reducing disease barrier to effective health interventions. Past outbreaks
transmission within a community (WHO, 2023; WHO have demonstrated that health education plays a crucial
& UNICEF, 2021). The practice of good hand hygiene role in decreasing the reproductive rate and transmission
represents the fundamental level of patient safety and of the Ebola virus. Tailoring health messages to align
protection against Ebola infection. However, the lack with the cultural and traditional beliefs of communities
of hand washing practice in many areas is attributed to is important in mitigating the disease’s prevalence. This
limited education and compromised health infrastructure finding is consistent with research examining the factors
within affected countries. The findings from the model contributing to the emergence of the 2014 outbreak,
consistently indicate that a limited number of women which identified interaction with wildlife, poor health
who can read part of a sentence and limited total health infrastructure, social infrastructure, and behavioral and
expenditure are associated with increased confirmed cultural practices as driving factors in disease transmission
cases reported at the onset of the outbreak. Furthermore, (Alexander et al., 2015).
a significant portion of government funds is allocated to Several inherent limitations accompany the use of
addressing common diseases such as HIV, malaria, and secondary datasets for ecological analysis. First, variations
tuberculosis, which have high prevalence rates within in reporting and definitions for each variable across
these countries. Consequently, limited aids are available
for controlling Ebola infections (Kieny et al., 2014). different countries may affect result interpretation.
Moreover, discrepancies in data access and reporting
In addition, the path model demonstrates that a higher introduce internal validity threats, as data availability
number of reported confirmed cases at the onset of the differed by country and variable of interest. Given the
outbreak correlates with an increase in confirmed deaths. sample size, mean substitution or elimination of districts
Moreover, an elevated proportion of households relying within each country was not feasible. In addition,
on sources of drinking water outside of their compound, correlations between variables may be affected by variance
yard, or plot is associated with a greater number of reduction (Tabachnick & Fidell, 2001). Ecological fallacy
latest confirmed deaths. Although the Ebola virus is not is another study limitation, as associations observed at the
transmitted through water, many communities in West community level may not necessarily hold for individuals
Africa rely on fetching drinking water from locations within those communities. Careful interpretation of results
outside of their yard or compound. This practice heightens and model fit indices is warranted, particularly as two fit
exposure to potentially infected individuals who gather indices, AGFI, are not within the acceptable threshold of
at water sources (WHO & UNICEF, 2021). According to 0.90, and the 90% CI of RMSEA, is not between 0 and 0.08.
the report, in 2008, 45% of individuals living in Nimba, Since this study methodology, focusing on health behavior
Liberia, obtained their main source of drinking water factors associated with the spread of the Ebola virus is
outside their compound or yard. relatively novel, the path model employed is considered the
Health behavior factors, especially environmental best fit for the outcome and predicting variables.
factors, significantly influence the outcomes observed, 4.1. Recommendation
including transmission and mortality associated with
Ebola infection. These environmental factors include the This study identified significant associations between
availability of water and soap for hand washing, primary Ebola virus morbidity and mortality and behavioral,
sources of drinking water, and total health expenditure, all socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Therefore,
of which likely contributed to the outbreak, according to the countries experiencing high prevalence and incidence
study’s findings. These factors play a crucial role in shaping of this disease must acknowledge and address the health
human behavior and interactions with the environment behavior and environmental factors contributing to its
(Alexander & McNutt, 2010). Similarly, socioeconomic transmission.
factors (education) and behavioral factors (employment Officials in affected countries should implement
status) are closely intertwined with environmental factors, measures to prepare for future Ebola virus outbreaks based
all of which can impact the spread and mortality of Ebola on the findings in this study. Key considerations include
infection, as evidenced by the study’s results. factors related to health-care access, preventive equipment,
Limited education and training regarding the signs, and methods such as hand hygiene. Basic hand hygiene,
symptoms, and transmission of the Ebola virus have whether using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water,
contributed to increasing morbidity and mortality rates is extremely important in preventing not only Ebola

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 7 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2107