{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T16:22:20Z","timestamp":1787934140351,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]],"date-time":"2026-03-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772755200000},"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>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Funeral practices were identified as a significant source of Ebola transmission during the 2014\u20132016 West Africa Ebola outbreak. This study investigated behaviours and contributing factors leading to Ebola exposure during funerals in Montserrado County, Liberia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 200 participants (mean age:51 years; 69.5% male) from Clara Town and Vai Town with family members of EVD victims and community leaders in Clara Town and Vai Town.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>High-risk behaviour, defined as kissing or touching the deceased without gloves, was reported by 29.5% of participants. In unadjusted analysis, males (COR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.14\u20135.03), the Kpelle tribe (COR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.66\u20136.05), Christians (COR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.42\u20135.09), and community leaders (COR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.23\u20134.32) were more likely to engage in high-risk behaviours. In multivariate analysis, only religion remained independently associated; Christians were more likely than Muslims to engage in such behaviours (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.40\u20135.18).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Kissing the deceased was the main risk behaviour. The study highlights the influence of cultural traditions on Ebola spread and calls for culturally sensitive prevention strategies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1735066","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]],"date-time":"2026-03-06T06:40:14Z","timestamp":1772779214000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Risk behaviour associated with contracting the Ebola virus at funerals: a study of Liberians attending the funerals of individuals deceased from Ebola"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Moses Tende","family":"Stephens","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University","place":["Chiang Mai, Thailand"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Arunrat","family":"Tangmunkongvorakul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University","place":["Chiang Mai, Thailand"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natthapol","family":"Kosashunhanan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University","place":["Chiang Mai, Thailand"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mosoka","family":"Fallah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)","place":["Addis Ababa, Ethiopia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julius S. M.","family":"Gilayeneh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Public Health Institute of Liberia","place":["Monrovia, Liberia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Timothy","family":"Kie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"African Methodist Episcopal University","place":["Monrovia, Liberia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kriengkrai","family":"Srithanaviboonchai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University","place":["Chiang Mai, Thailand"]},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University","place":["Chiang Mai, Thailand"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1330","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens10101330","article-title":"Structural and functional aspects of Ebola virus proteins","volume":"10","author":"Jain","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"06","DOI":"10.4102\/ojvr.v79i2.451","article-title":"Ebola virus outbreaks in Africa: past and present","volume":"79","author":"Muyembe-Tamfum","year":"2012","journal-title":"Onderstepoort J Vet Res"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Ebola virus disease with special reference to epidemiology and management","author":"Chandra Shekhar","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"773","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00003-16","article-title":"Diagnosis of Ebola virus disease: past, present, and future","volume":"29","author":"Broadhurst","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin Microbiol Rev"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phrp.2011.04.001","article-title":"Incubation period of Ebola hemorrhagic virus subtype Zaire","volume":"2","author":"Eichner","year":"2011","journal-title":"Osong Public Health Res Perspect"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckz104","article-title":"The 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic: evaluating communication strategies between two affected countries in West Africa [review]","volume":"30","author":"Walker","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur J Pub Health"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-pathol-052016-100506","article-title":"The pathogenesis of Ebola virus disease","volume":"12","author":"Baseler","year":"2017","journal-title":"Annu Rev Pathol Mech Dis"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2590","DOI":"10.1007\/s10620-015-3691-z","article-title":"Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of Ebola virus infection","volume":"60","author":"Sharma","year":"2015","journal-title":"Dig Dis Sci"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1470","DOI":"10.1093\/milmed\/usae204","article-title":"Ebola virus disease outbreaks: lessons learned from past and facing future challenges","volume":"189","author":"Dembek","year":"2024","journal-title":"Mil Med"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiph.2020.12.030","article-title":"Ebola virus outbreak preparedness plan for developing nations: lessons learnt from affected countries","volume":"14","author":"Gupta","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Infect Public Health"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0005491","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005491","article-title":"Estimating the number of secondary Ebola cases resulting from an unsafe burial and risk factors for transmission during the West Africa Ebola epidemic","volume":"11","author":"Tiffany","year":"2017","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S177","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jiw254","article-title":"Ebola virus shedding and transmission: review of current evidence","volume":"214","author":"Vetter","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Infect Dis"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2017.03.018","article-title":"Personal protective equipment solution for UK military medical personnel working in an Ebola virus disease treatment unit in Sierra Leone","volume":"96","author":"Reidy","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Hosp Infect"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S94","DOI":"10.5588\/pha.16.0098","article-title":"Infection prevention and control in health facilities in post-Ebola Liberia: don't forget the private sector!","volume":"7","author":"Tremblay","year":"2017","journal-title":"Public Health Action"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1253","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2107.150511","article-title":"Cluster of Ebola virus disease, bong and Montserrado counties, Liberia","volume":"21","author":"Nyenswah","year":"2015","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"ref16","volume-title":"Understanding why Ebola deaths occur at home in urban Montserrado County, Liberia","author":"Allen","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"073","DOI":"10.19204\/2020\/trdt8","article-title":"Traditional funeral and burial rituals and Ebola outbreaks in West Africa: a narrative review of causes and strategy interventions","volume":"5","author":"Park","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Health Soc Sci"},{"key":"ref18","volume-title":"Cultural practices and the transmission of Ebola in Sierra Leone: lessons learned from a medical anthropology perspective","author":"Jalloh","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.2105\/ajph.2018.304870","article-title":"Faith and global health practice in Ebola and HIV emergencies","volume":"109","author":"Blevins","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm6508a2","article-title":"Cluster of Ebola virus disease linked to a single funeral\u2014Moyamba District, Sierra Leone, 2014","volume":"65","author":"Curran","year":"2016","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep"},{"key":"ref21","volume-title":"Responding to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa: What role does religion play?","author":"Marshall","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.5040\/9798400635540","volume-title":"Culture and customs of Liberia","author":"Olukoju","year":"2006"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.33546\/bnj.3069","article-title":"The potential risk components and prevention measures of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Liberia: an in-depth interview with the health workers and stakeholders","volume":"10","author":"Stephens","year":"2024","journal-title":"Belitung Nursing Journal"},{"key":"ref24","volume-title":"Policy critique on the World Health Organization's burial practices used during Ebola outbreak of 2014\u20132015 University of Pittsburgh","author":"Law","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref25","first-page":"20","article-title":"Improving burial practices and cemetery management during an Ebola virus disease epidemic\u2014Sierra Leone, 2014","volume":"64","author":"Nielsen","year":"2015","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"399","DOI":"10.1353\/anq.2017.0024","article-title":"Missing bodies and secret funerals: the production of \"safe and dignified burials\" in the Liberian Ebola crisis","volume":"90","author":"Moran","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anthropol Q"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1275","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140-6736(14)62382-5","article-title":"Ebola: limitations of correcting misinformation","volume":"385","author":"Chandler","year":"2015","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref28","first-page":"386","article-title":"Ebola transmission linked to a single traditional funeral ceremony\u2014Kissidougou, Guinea, December, 2014\u2013January 2015","volume":"64","author":"Victory","year":"2015","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1017\/asr.2016.87","article-title":"Understanding social resistance to the Ebola response in the forest region of the Republic of Guinea: an anthropological perspective","volume":"59","author":"Fairhead","year":"2016","journal-title":"Afr Stud Rev"},{"key":"ref30","volume-title":"Field situation: How to conduct safe and dignified burial of a patient who has died from suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1730","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jiy387","article-title":"Lessons from the West Africa Ebola epidemic: a systematic review of epidemiological and social and behavioral science research priorities","volume":"218","author":"Abramowitz","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Infect Dis"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1242","DOI":"10.3201\/eid0910.020493","article-title":"Cultural contexts of Ebola in northern Uganda","volume":"9","author":"Hewlett","year":"2003","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"ref33","volume-title":"The corpse: a history","author":"Quigley","year":"2005"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1086\/710784","article-title":"Ethnic marginalization and (non) compliance in public health emergencies","volume":"83","author":"Arriola","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Polit"},{"key":"ref35","first-page":"100309","volume-title":"Safe and dignified burial of a deceased from a highly contagious infectious disease ebolavirus: socio-cultural and anthropological implications in the eastern DR Congo","author":"Sikakulya","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref36","volume-title":"Relationship between cultural and religious practices and Ebola virus in Freetown, Sierra Leone Walden University","author":"Kpange","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e61050","DOI":"10.5210\/ojphi.v4i3.4321","article-title":"Towards an effective health interventions design: an extension of the health belief model","volume":"4","author":"Orji","year":"2012","journal-title":"Online J Public Health Inform"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1735066\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]],"date-time":"2026-03-06T06:40:19Z","timestamp":1772779219000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1735066\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]},"references-count":37,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1735066"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1735066","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]},"article-number":"1735066"}}