Family Care and Health Behavior: A Sociocultural Perspective on Ebola Virus Disease Transmission in Sierra Leone

The 2013–2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was the largest and deadliest in the four-decade history of the disease. This study examined the sociocultural context of EVD transmission during the outbreak, with a particular focus on a high-risk behavior—caring for sick relatives. Guided by a sociocultural perspective on health, it specifically explored the role of family-based caregiving practices in the transmission of EVD during an outbreak. Utilizing a qualitative collective case study, I interviewed three Ebola survivors in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Content analysis resulted in two themes: (1) family care and perceived EVD transmission and (2) how family care contributed to EVD transmission and spread. Overall, the Ebola survivors cared for sick relatives and soon thereafter got sick themselves. Additionally, the findings revealed the types of family care practices that contributed to EVD transmission as depicted by the lived experience of Ebola survivors. Although the scope of the present study is limited, the findings provide valuable information that will contribute to tailoring community health education and prevention campaigns intended to make family-based care safer during EVD outbreaks in Sierra Leone.