Population Overview
The population that is most impacted by the Ebola virus disease (EVD) includes the residents with the lower socio-economic status of underdeveloped countries of West Africa. This selected population resides in such countries as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Nigeria, and other countries in the western part of Africa. These countries are highly populated and demonstrate a continuously high birth rate.
The majority of people dwell in rural locations, which are distributed unevenly across the land; however, the number of urban inhabitants rises (“West Africa: Land use and land cover dynamics,” n. d.). The population pyramid characterizing these countries is wide at the basis and narrows toward the top, which indicates the prevalence of younger individuals. People from West Africa are highly mobile in terms of crossing borders, follow customs and traditions, and adhere to traditional healing methods.
Disease Description
The EVD is a severe infectious disease that has a high level of rapid inflammation and is characterized by a high rate of mortality. The symptoms of the illness include fever, significant fluid loss, diarrhea, and vomiting. The EVD prevails in vulnerable populations, including those inhabiting tropical countries and those of lower-income status. The rates of fatal cases vary from 41% to 84%, depending on a type of virus and a country (Okeke, 2019, p. 1).
The aftermath of the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2016 demonstrates that 11,325 deaths were registered worldwide (Okeke, 2019, p. 2). The animal-borne virus is transmitted from human to human. According to Alexander et al. (2015), “virus invasion in humans appears to occur through mucosal surfaces, breaks, and abrasions in the skin, or parenteral introduction” (p. 3). Thus, it is a viral disease that imposes a significant threat to global health.
Description of Potentially Relevant Cultural Factors Related to the Disease
Among cultural factors that might contribute to the outbreak of the EVD are several issues specific to the selected population. Firstly, since in West Africa women commonly act as caregivers to the ill, they become more exposed to the infection (Okeke, 2019). Secondly, the majority of West African residents seek health care from traditional healers, which leads to the neglecting of the symptoms, inadequate treatment, and further spread of the illness. Thirdly, the burial customs that involve washing corps and rinsing with that water is a substantial determinant of the EVD transmission (Okeke, 2019). Finally, the overall fear of people being stigmatized due to being infected leads to their concealing of the symptoms and ultimately causes a viral spread of the disease.
Environmental and Social Factors
Some determinants derived from the environment, economy, and infrastructure are also associated with the disease spread. The tropical climate characterized by high temperatures contributes to the vital conditions necessary for the virus to survive. As for socio-economic determinants, poverty imposes significant constraints to the treatment options, as well as exposes people to living in unsanitary conditions that facilitate the spread of the infection (Alexander et al., 2015).
As Richards et al. (2015) state, the continuous civil conflicts on the territories of West Africa constrain the development of the health care system, among other issues, and aggravate the problem. Also, the prevalence of rural areas of inhabitance is a significant environmental factor because once the EVD infects people of an isolated village, insufficient care is provided, and the spread of the disease is enforced (Richards et al., 2015). Finally, the combination of rapid population growth and inadequate health care infrastructure does not allow for implementing necessary preventative and curing interventions to avoid the fatalities caused by Ebola (Okeke, 2019). Thus, it is essential to consider all these factors when tackling the problem of EVD in the defined population.
References
Alexander, K. A., Sanderson, C. E., Marathe, M., Lewis, B. L., Rivers, C. M., Shaman, J., … & Eubank, S. (2015). What factors might have led to the emergence of Ebola in West Africa? PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9(6), e0003652, 1-26.
Okeke, A. (2019). Socio-cultural determinants of spread of Ebola outbreak in West Africa 2014-2016: Lessons learnt. Asian Journal of Research in Infectious Diseases, 2(2), 1-6.
Richards, P., Amara, J., Ferme, M. C., Kamara, P., Mokuwa, E., Sheriff, A. I., … & Voors, M. (2015). Social pathways for Ebola virus disease in rural Sierra Leone, and some implications for containment. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9(4), e0003567, 1-15.
West Africa: Land use and land cover dynamics. (n. d.). Web.