Abstract：
In this evaluation of COVID-19 preventative response programs in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), we aimed to explore community understandings of COVID-19, assess operational successes and challenges of COVID response activities, and identify barriers to practicing COVID-19 preventative behaviors.
Thirty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted from April to September 2021 in South Kivu, DRC, with community members (n = 16) and programmatic stakeholders (n = 15) (healthcare providers, government officials, and developmental and NGO staff engaged in COVID-19 response).
Most community members were aware of COVID-19 and its global burden, but few were aware of local transmission in their area. Some community members attributed COVID-19 to actions of malevolent neighbors, miasma (\"bad air\"), or spirits. Awareness of COVID-19 preventative measures was widespread, largely because of radio and TV health promotion programs. Community members and programmatic stakeholders both said community-level non-compliance to COVID-19 preventative measures was high despite high awareness of preventative methods. Community members expressed concern that face masks distributed as part of preventative programs contained the COVID-19 virus. Programmatic stakeholders emphasized the need for broader health system strengthening with improved coordination, provision of resources to health facilities at the provincial level, and prioritization of research. Lessons learned from addressing Ebola were leveraged for COVID-19 health promotion, rapid training of healthcare personnel, and surveillance.
Community-informed approaches are needed for effective COVID-19 preventative response programs in South Kivu, DRC. Our study identified successes and challenges in COVID-19 response activities. Future research should assess the effectiveness of integrating preventive programs with COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
Thirty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted from April to September 2021 in South Kivu, DRC, with community members (n = 16) and programmatic stakeholders (n = 15) (healthcare providers, government officials, and developmental and NGO staff engaged in COVID-19 response).
Most community members were aware of COVID-19 and its global burden, but few were aware of local transmission in their area. Some community members attributed COVID-19 to actions of malevolent neighbors, miasma (\"bad air\"), or spirits. Awareness of COVID-19 preventative measures was widespread, largely because of radio and TV health promotion programs. Community members and programmatic stakeholders both said community-level non-compliance to COVID-19 preventative measures was high despite high awareness of preventative methods. Community members expressed concern that face masks distributed as part of preventative programs contained the COVID-19 virus. Programmatic stakeholders emphasized the need for broader health system strengthening with improved coordination, provision of resources to health facilities at the provincial level, and prioritization of research. Lessons learned from addressing Ebola were leveraged for COVID-19 health promotion, rapid training of healthcare personnel, and surveillance.
Community-informed approaches are needed for effective COVID-19 preventative response programs in South Kivu, DRC. Our study identified successes and challenges in COVID-19 response activities. Future research should assess the effectiveness of integrating preventive programs with COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
摘要：
在对南基伍省COVID-19预防反应计划的评估中，刚果民主共和国(DRC)我们旨在探索社区对COVID-19的理解，评估COVID应对活动的运营成功和挑战，并确定实施COVID-19预防行为的障碍。
2021年4月至9月在南基伍进行了31次半结构化访谈，DRC,与社区成员(n=16)和方案利益相关者(n=15)(医疗保健提供者，政府官员,以及从事COVID-19应对工作的发展和非政府组织工作人员)。
大多数社区成员都知道COVID-19及其全球负担，但是很少有人知道他们所在地区的本地传播。一些社区成员将COVID-19归因于恶意邻居的行为，miasma(\"badair\"),或精神。对COVID-19预防措施的认识很普遍，主要是因为广播和电视健康促进节目。社区成员和方案利益相关者都表示，尽管对预防方法的认识很高，但社区一级对COVID-19预防措施的不遵守情况很高。社区成员对作为预防计划一部分分发的口罩含有COVID-19病毒表示关注。方案利益攸关方强调，需要加强更广泛的卫生系统，加强协调，向省级卫生设施提供资源，和研究的优先次序。从解决埃博拉疫情中吸取的经验教训被用于COVID-19健康促进，快速培训医护人员，和监视。
南基伍有效的COVID-19预防应对计划需要社区知情的方法，刚果民主共和国。我们的研究确定了COVID-19应对活动的成功和挑战。未来的研究应评估将预防计划与COVID-19疫苗接种工作相结合的有效性。
2021年4月至9月在南基伍进行了31次半结构化访谈，DRC,与社区成员(n=16)和方案利益相关者(n=15)(医疗保健提供者，政府官员,以及从事COVID-19应对工作的发展和非政府组织工作人员)。
大多数社区成员都知道COVID-19及其全球负担，但是很少有人知道他们所在地区的本地传播。一些社区成员将COVID-19归因于恶意邻居的行为，miasma(\"badair\"),或精神。对COVID-19预防措施的认识很普遍，主要是因为广播和电视健康促进节目。社区成员和方案利益相关者都表示，尽管对预防方法的认识很高，但社区一级对COVID-19预防措施的不遵守情况很高。社区成员对作为预防计划一部分分发的口罩含有COVID-19病毒表示关注。方案利益攸关方强调，需要加强更广泛的卫生系统，加强协调，向省级卫生设施提供资源，和研究的优先次序。从解决埃博拉疫情中吸取的经验教训被用于COVID-19健康促进，快速培训医护人员，和监视。
南基伍有效的COVID-19预防应对计划需要社区知情的方法，刚果民主共和国。我们的研究确定了COVID-19应对活动的成功和挑战。未来的研究应评估将预防计划与COVID-19疫苗接种工作相结合的有效性。
