Effective channels for COVID-19 communication and treatment in Cox’s Bazar

Photo Credit: Rafique/Caritas Bangladesh

JULY 23rd, 2020 

Using a representative sample from a phone-based follow-up survey to the Cox’s Bazar Panel Survey (CBPS) in southern Bangladesh in April 2020 reveals: i) gaps between COVID-19 awareness and protective behavior, and ii) the primary sources of health information and treatment that constitute promising targets for interventions among Rohingya refugees and host communities. The vast majority of refugees and hosts are knowledgeable about respiratory hygiene and potential sources of virus transmission. However, many continue to leave home regularly, suggesting that mere awareness of COVID-19 risks is not enough to ensure behavioral change in accordance with public health recommendations. New campaigns must encourage people to seek treatment and highlight the importance of protective measures via trusted sources. Local pharmacies, friends, and the media are the most effective channels for COVID-19 communication and treatment in Rohingya refugee camps and surrounding host communities. Given the significant remaining uncertainties, continued research and innovation will be required to achieve the community-level adoption of protective behavior needed to overcome the pandemic. 

The Cox’s Bazar Panel Survey (CBPS) tracks representative samples of Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar district in southern Bangladesh. A phone-based follow-up survey from April 2020 reveals i) gaps between COVID-19 awareness and protective behavior and ii) the primary sources of health information and treatment that constitute promising targets for interventions. The vast majority of refugees and hosts are knowledgeable about respiratory hygiene and potential sources of virus transmission. However, many continue to leave home regularly, suggesting that mere awareness of COVID-19 risks is not enough to ensure behavioral change in accordance with public health recommendations. 

These results suggest public health communication has largely succeeded in disseminating basic knowledge about the disease but faces a new challenge in affecting behavior change. New campaigns must encourage people to seek treatment and highlight the importance of protective measures via trusted sources. Religious leaders might be best positioned to encourage safe religious observance while social networks can both spread information and enforce norms. Pharmacists, as an important part of the basic health infrastructure in Cox’s Bazar, are key to treatment and surveillance. But, given the significant remaining uncertainties, continued research and innovation will be required to achieve the community-level adoption of protective behavior needed to overcome the pandemic.