TY - JOUR
T1 - A Public Health Systems View of Risk Communication About Zika
AU - Kirk Sell, Tara
AU - Ravi, Sanjana J.
AU - Watson, Crystal
AU - Meyer, Diane
AU - Pechta, Laura E.
AU - Rose, Dale A.
AU - Lubell, Keri M.
AU - Podgornik, Michelle N.
AU - Schoch-Spana, Monica
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors declared the following financial support with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The research was funded under contract #200-2016-92378 with CDC.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - Objectives: The spread of Zika virus throughout Latin America and parts of the United States in 2016 and 2017 presented a challenge to public health communicators. The objective of our study was to describe emergency risk communication practices during the 2016-2017 Zika outbreak to inform future infectious disease communication efforts. Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 13 public health policy makers and practitioners, 10 public information officers, and 5 vector-control officials from May through August 2017. Results: Within the public health macro-environment, extended outbreak timeframe, government trust, US residence status, and economic insecurity set the backdrop for Zika communication efforts. Limited resources, staffing, and partnerships negatively affected public health structural capacity for communication efforts. Public health communicators and practitioners used a range of processes and practices to engage in education and outreach, including fieldwork, community meetings, and contact with health care providers. Overall, public health agencies’ primary goals were to prevent Zika infection, reduce transmission, and prevent adverse birth outcomes. Conclusions: Lessons learned from this disease response included understanding the macro-environment, developing partnerships across agencies and the community, and valuing diverse message platforms. These lessons can be used to improve communication approaches for health officials at the local, state, and federal levels during future infectious disease outbreaks.
AB - Objectives: The spread of Zika virus throughout Latin America and parts of the United States in 2016 and 2017 presented a challenge to public health communicators. The objective of our study was to describe emergency risk communication practices during the 2016-2017 Zika outbreak to inform future infectious disease communication efforts. Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 13 public health policy makers and practitioners, 10 public information officers, and 5 vector-control officials from May through August 2017. Results: Within the public health macro-environment, extended outbreak timeframe, government trust, US residence status, and economic insecurity set the backdrop for Zika communication efforts. Limited resources, staffing, and partnerships negatively affected public health structural capacity for communication efforts. Public health communicators and practitioners used a range of processes and practices to engage in education and outreach, including fieldwork, community meetings, and contact with health care providers. Overall, public health agencies’ primary goals were to prevent Zika infection, reduce transmission, and prevent adverse birth outcomes. Conclusions: Lessons learned from this disease response included understanding the macro-environment, developing partnerships across agencies and the community, and valuing diverse message platforms. These lessons can be used to improve communication approaches for health officials at the local, state, and federal levels during future infectious disease outbreaks.
KW - communicable diseases
KW - emerging infectious diseases
KW - health communications
KW - outbreaks
KW - preparedness
KW - public health practice
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U2 - 10.1177/0033354920912215
DO - 10.1177/0033354920912215
M3 - Article
C2 - 32243762
AN - SCOPUS:85083051304
SN - 0033-3549
VL - 135
SP - 343
EP - 353
JO - Public health reports
JF - Public health reports
IS - 3
ER -