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Public Perceptions and Knowledge of the Ebola Virus, Willingness to Vaccinate, and Likely Behavioral Responses to an Outbreak

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2016

Keith J Petrie Open the ORCID record for Keith J Petrie [Opens in a new window] ,
Kate Faasse  and
Mark G Thomas
Keith J Petrie*
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Kate Faasse
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Mark G Thomas
Affiliation:
Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Keith Petrie, Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Park Rd, Grafton, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 New Zealand (e-mail: kj.petrie@auckland.ac.nz).
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Abstract

Objective

We examined public perceptions of the risk of an Ebola outbreak, knowledge about transmission, and the factors associated with planned protective behavior, including willingness to vaccinate.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey using random digit dialing of 750 members of the New Zealand public between February 12 and 19, 2015.

Results

Most of the sample (72%) reported that they had been following news of the outbreak closely and 28% were concerned that there would be a large outbreak in New Zealand. High rates of planned protective behavior, in terms of avoiding contact with other people, were reported, with 23% reporting they would avoid going to work, 49% reporting they would avoid using public transport, 42% reporting they would avoid sending children to school, and 52% reporting they would avoid public events. A younger age, a higher concern, and lower confidence in the ability of hospitals to contain the outbreak were significantly associated with both a greater willingness to vaccinate and a larger number of protective behaviors.

Conclusions

An Ebola outbreak would have large social and economic consequences owing to the large proportion of the population who intended to avoid social contact in order to protect their health. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:674–680)

Keywords

Ebola outbreakperceived riskprotective behaviorvaccination
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 674 - 680
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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