Open AccessHidden Tales of Ebola: Airing the Forgotten Voices of Ugandan “Ebola Nurses”
Author(s) -
Isaac Okello Wonyima,
Susan FowlerKerry,
Grace Nambozi,
Charlotte D. Barry,
Jeanie Wills,
Yolanda Palmer-Clarke,
Rozzano C. Locsin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of transcultural nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1552-7832
pISSN - 1043-6596
DOI - 10.1177/10436596211017968
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , loneliness , nursing , stigma (botany) , ebola virus , government (linguistics) , health care , medicine , pandemic , qualitative research , family medicine , disease , outbreak , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , political science , sociology , psychiatry , law , virology , pathology , social science , linguistics , philosophy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ebola has affected the lives of thousands, including health care workers. With few studies describing the experience of nurses who survived Ebola, the study aimed to describe Ugandan nurses’ experiences.Method Using a phenomenological design, in-depth interviews were conducted among five Ugandan nurses who contracted Ebola and survived.Result Thematic analysis revealed themes of expectations of dying, hopelessness, loneliness, and betrayal by family, community, and the health system.Discussion Results support the need for policies targeting holistic practice protocols to protect all health care professionals during future outbreaks. Last, nursing survivors should have access to government-guaranteed support programs, including free health care and financial stipends. These results and recommendations transcend to the current reality of living with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Efficient practice protocols could protect all rights and privileges and contribute to access to treatment and stigma removal.