The Impact of Ebola Infection on Demographic and Social Outcomes in Sierra Leone

项目总结： 关于埃博拉病毒的有限研究表明，在幸存者及其家人中， 感染对社会和人口结果的重大影响，但知之甚少 关于这个话题。2014-15年的埃博拉疫情是迄今为止最严重的一次，超过 几内亚、利比里亚和塞拉利昂报告了28,000例病例，幸存者超过10,000人。 在幸存者中，埃博拉感染的影响不仅仅是身体健康； 后果从心理(抑郁、焦虑、内疚)到人口统计和 社会(婚姻解体、移民、污名)，其中许多可能是长期的。 然而，到目前为止，很少有研究考察埃博拉病毒对社会和 人口统计结果--幸存者及其家人--以及现有研究 有很大的局限性。绝大多数关于社会和人口影响的研究 埃博拉感染是定性的，使用方便的样本。有几个话题还没有 审查了诸如埃博拉感染的长期影响、促进康复和 幸存者感染后的复原力，以及埃博拉感染对家庭的间接影响。 这项拟议的研究将是第一个以人口为基础的关于 埃博拉感染对社会和人口结果的影响。我们寻求收集三个月的数据 塞拉利昂人口：(1)感染埃博拉病毒但幸存下来的个人( (2)有一名家庭成员死于埃博拉病毒(感染者)，(3)两者都没有 感染埃博拉病毒或一名家庭成员死于埃博拉病毒(既未感染也未受影响)。 因此，这项研究的具体目标包括：SA#1：检查 埃博拉感染对人口和社会结果的影响，如婚姻、生育率、移民和 身心健康；以及社会结果，如对卫生设施的看法， 对死亡率、社会互动和网络的看法。为了实现这一目标，我们将 比较埃博拉幸存者和未感染埃博拉病毒的人之间的结果 塞拉利昂的社区，同时控制这些社区之间的差异特征 并可能影响感兴趣的结果。SA#2：在埃博拉幸存者中，识别 促进埃博拉感染后复原力和恢复的应对机制。在埃博拉病毒中 幸存者，我们将确认那些更有效地从埃博拉病毒中恢复的人，并确定 与有效恢复相关的特征。复苏的几个方面将是 衡量标准，包括健康和福祉、经济地位和社会资本。SA#3：TO 衡量埃博拉感染对家庭和家庭的间接影响。要做到这一点，我们将 比较受埃博拉病毒影响的家庭和 既没有感染也没有受到埃博拉病毒的影响。

Project Summary: The limited body of research on Ebola suggests that, among survivors and their families, there are substantial impacts of infection on social and demographic outcomes, yet little is known about this topic. The 2014-15 Ebola epidemic was by far the most severe in history, with over 28,000 reported cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and more than 10,000 survivors. Among survivors, the impact of Ebola infection extended beyond just physical health; the consequences range from the psychological (depression, anxiety, guilt) to demographic and social (marital dissolution, migration, stigma), many of which are likely to be long-lasting. However, to date, very little research has examined the impact of Ebola on social and demographic outcomes- both for survivors, as well as their families- and the existing research has important limitations. The vast majority of research on social and demographic impacts of Ebola infection is qualitative and uses convenience samples. Several topics have not been examined, like the longer-term impacts of Ebola infection, factors promoting recovery and resilience after infection among survivors, and indirect impact of Ebola infection on households. This proposed research will be the first population-based quantitative study on the impacts of Ebola infection on social and demographic outcomes. We seek to collect data for three populations in Sierra Leone: individuals who (1) were infected with Ebola but survived (the infected), (2) had a household member who died from Ebola (the affected), and (3) were neither infected or had a household member die from Ebola infection (neither infected nor affected). The Specific Aims for this study therefore include: SA #1: To examine the consequences of Ebola infection on demographic and social outcomes, such as marriage, fertility, migration, and mental and physical health; and social outcomes, such as views towards health facilities, perceptions of mortality, social interactions and networks. To accomplish this goal, we will compare these outcomes between Ebola survivors and those who were not infected in the same communities in Sierra Leone, while controlling for characteristics that differ between these groups and may impact the outcomes of interest. SA #2: Among Ebola survivors, to identify coping mechanisms that promoted resilience and recovery after Ebola infection. Among Ebola survivors, we will identify those who more effectively recovered from Ebola, and identify characteristics that are associated with effective recovery. Several aspects of recovery will be measured, including health and well-being, economic status, and social capital. SA #3: To measure the indirect impacts of Ebola infection on households and families. To do so, we will compare sociodemographic outcomes between households affected by Ebola and those who were neither infected nor affected by Ebola.