{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,3]],"date-time":"2026-03-03T23:54:37Z","timestamp":1772582077441,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,15]],"date-time":"2023-06-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1686787200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Cross-border movements between districts bordering Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are common due to the interdependence between populations on either side, though this increases the risk of the international spread of infectious diseases. Due to the nature of their work, boda boda drivers (motorcycle taxis), taxis and truck drivers continue to cross the border during epidemics. However, perceived risk of contracting and spreading communicable diseases may be influenced by several factors such as the level of education, packaging and perception of health care messages, limited interaction with local socio-cultural dynamics or personal experiences. This study aims to explore differences in movement patterns and risk perceptions as factors for transmission among transport drivers in Ugandan border districts during the 2018\u20132020 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic and the current COVID-19 pandemic.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Between May and June 2021, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with transport drivers in three Ugandan districts bordering DRC (Kasese, Kisoro and Hoima). Participants were asked about their knowledge and beliefs about EVD and COVID-19, perceived risk during epidemics, reasons for, and travel patterns during the EVD epidemic and COVID- 19 pandemic. A thematic content analysis was applied.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Participants\u2019 awareness of EVD was higher than that of COVID-19 however, the risk of transmission of Ebola virus was perceived as a remote threat. Measures restricting mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic had a greater impact on transport drivers compared to those implemented during the EVD epidemic, and were perceived as prohibitive rather than protective, largely due to fear of reprisals by security officers. Despite this, drivers were unlikely to be able to comply with the restrictions as they relied on their work as a source of income.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The vulnerabilities of transport drivers should be considered in the context of epidemics such EVD and COVID-19 in Uganda. Policy makers should address these particularities and assess the impact of public health measures on transport drivers\u2019 mobility and involve them in designing of mobility-relatedpolicies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1123330","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,15]],"date-time":"2023-06-15T04:56:12Z","timestamp":1686804972000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Risk perception of Ebola virus disease and COVID-19 among transport drivers living in Ugandan border districts"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9","family":"Blanco-Penedo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hannah","family":"Brindle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Megan","family":"Schmidt-Sane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alex","family":"Bowmer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Constance","family":"Iradukunda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Herbert","family":"Mfitundinda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jude","family":"Rwemisisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Grace Nicholas","family":"Mukiibi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Christine","family":"Fricke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Simone","family":"Carter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Kaawa-Mafigiri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shelley","family":"Lees","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5151","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-41192-3","article-title":"Utilizing general human movement models to predict the spread of emerging infectious diseases in resource poor settings","volume":"9","author":"Kraemer","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref2","year":"2005"},{"key":"ref3","first-page":"177","article-title":"The nature of African boundaries","volume":"18","author":"Ajala","year":"1983","journal-title":"Afr Spectr"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1080\/17531055.2010.487338","article-title":"Resources and border disputes in eastern Africa","volume":"4","author":"Okumu","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Eastern Afr Stud"},{"key":"ref5","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm6901a3","article-title":"Population movement patterns among the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda during an outbreak of Ebola virus disease: results from community engagement in two districts - Uganda, March 2019","volume":"69","author":"Nakiire","year":"2020","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0230683","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0230683","article-title":"Challenges to Ebola preparedness during an ongoing outbreak: an analysis of borderland livelihoods and trust in Uganda","volume":"15","author":"Schmidt-Sane","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref8","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref9","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1089\/hs.2019.0118","article-title":"Ebola virus disease preparedness assessment and risk mapping in Uganda, august-September 2018. Health 589","volume":"18","author":"Nanziri","year":"2020","journal-title":"Security"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1186\/s12992-020-00548-5","article-title":"Uganda\u2019s experience in Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018-2019","volume":"16","author":"Aceng","year":"2020","journal-title":"Glob Health"},{"key":"ref12","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref13","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref14","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref15","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref16","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref17","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref18","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref19","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tranpol.2013.05.001","article-title":"Baby boomers\u2019 mobility patterns and preferences: what are the implications for future transport?","volume":"29","author":"Siren","year":"2013","journal-title":"Transp Policy"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1504\/IJATM.2014.065290","article-title":"Passenger transport mode share in cities: exploration of actual and future trends with a worldwide survey","volume":"14","author":"Aguil\u00e9ra","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int J Automot Technol Manag"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jocm.2018.03.003","article-title":"Using panel data for modelling duration dynamics of outdoor leisure activities","volume":"31","author":"Puello","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Choice Model"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"917","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physa.2011.08.070","article-title":"Epidemic dynamics behavior in some bus transport networks","volume":"391","author":"Yang","year":"2012","journal-title":"Physica A"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mbs.2012.04.003","article-title":"Risk perception and effectiveness of uncoordinated behavioral responses in an emerging epidemic","volume":"238","author":"Poletti","year":"2012","journal-title":"Math Biosci"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/13669877.2017.1351465","article-title":"The meaning of risk-taking\u2013key concepts and dimensions","volume":"22","author":"Zinn","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Risk Res"},{"key":"ref26","author":"Jones","year":""},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj.2021.38.27.26691","article-title":"A scoping review of the impact of long-distance truck drivers on the spread of COVID-19 infection","volume":"38","author":"Malinga","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pan Afr Med J"},{"key":"ref28","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref29","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref30","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1080\/01441640309890","article-title":"Filling the middle': Uganda's appropriate transport services","volume":"23","author":"Howe","year":"2003","journal-title":"Transp Rev"},{"key":"ref32","first-page":"1","article-title":"Urban husbands with rural wives: migration, employment and sexual health in a high HIV risk area in Uganda","volume":"6","author":"Stella","year":"2003","journal-title":"Urban Health Dev Bull"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"336","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462414538006","article-title":"Crane survey group. High-risk motorcycle taxi drivers in the HIV\/AIDS era: a respondent-driven sampling survey in Kampala, Uganda","volume":"26","author":"Lindan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"key":"ref34","author":"Monitor","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref35","author":"Monitor","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref36","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1177\/1525822X02239569","article-title":"Techniques to identify themes","volume":"15","author":"Ryan","year":"2003","journal-title":"Field Methods"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25287","DOI":"10.3402\/gha.v7.25287","article-title":"The interconnected and cross-border nature of risks posed by infectious diseases","volume":"7","author":"Suk","year":"2014","journal-title":"Glob Health Action"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e20724","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0020724","article-title":"The impact of economic crises on communicable disease transmission and control: a systematic review of the evidence","volume":"6","author":"Suhrcke","year":"2011","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"338","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.94.1.338","article-title":"Heterogeneities in the transmission of infectious agents: implications for the design of control programs","volume":"94","author":"Woolhouse","year":"1997","journal-title":"Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.3366\/afr.2010.0403","article-title":"Regulation, cross-border trade and practical norms in West Nile, North-Western Uganda","volume":"80","author":"Titeca","year":"2010","journal-title":"Africa"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1007\/s11199-005-1198-3","article-title":"Contemporary myths, sexuality misconceptions, information sources, and risk perceptions of Bodabodamen in Southwest Uganda","volume":"52","author":"Nyanzi","year":"2005","journal-title":"Sex Roles"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1080\/09540120120044026","article-title":"Truck drivers, middlemen and commercial sex workers: AIDS and the mediation of sex in south West Uganda","volume":"13","author":"Gysels","year":"2001","journal-title":"AIDS Care"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"459","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003143840-47","article-title":"Confronting epidemics: The art of not knowing and strategic ignorance during Ebola preparedness in Uganda","volume-title":"Routledge Handbook of Public Policy in Africa","author":"Akello","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2022.115482","article-title":"115482","volume":"314","author":"Parker","year":"2022","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1007\/s40258-020-00580-x","article-title":"COVID-19 pandemic, a war to be won: understanding its economic implications for Africa","volume":"18","author":"Ataguba","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appl Health Econ Health Policy"},{"key":"ref47","author":"Titeca","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref48","author":"Titeca","year":"2021"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1123330\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,15]],"date-time":"2023-06-15T04:56:20Z","timestamp":1686804980000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1123330\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,15]]},"references-count":48,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1123330"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1123330","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,15]]},"article-number":"1123330"}}