Effective communication strategies during COVID-19 outbreak
Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis (ACRES)DRRES-43
This Rapid Response should be cited as
ACRES (2020) Effective communication strategies during COVID-19 outbreak; A Rapid Response Brief. Kampala: The Center For Rapid Evidence Synthesis
Summary
Background: Policy and decision makers in Uganda are cognisant of the importance of effective communication in the prevention and control of an outbreak. A lack of effective communication can lead to community outrage and mistrust. Findings: Effective communication during a disease outbreak involves announcing early, using lay/appropriate language, transparency, building trust, listening to the public, and planning. Deliberate measures to address misinformation must also be instituted. Conclusion: Authorities need to plan for communication during the planning phase of addressing a disease outbreak based on the different aspects of effective communication.