Actor‐network analysis of community‐based organisations in health pandemics

Evidence from the Covid‐19 response in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Bibliographic Data

ID7280584
AuthorsLouis Kusi Frimpong (0000-0002-3363-6086, Lecturer at the Department of Geography and Earth Science University of Environment and Sustainable Development Ghana, corresponding author), Seth Asare Okyere (0000-0001-9028-2491, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University Japan), Stephen Kofi Diko (0000-0003-1809-436X, Assistant Professor at the Department of City and Regional Planning University of Memphis United States), Matthew Abunyewah (0000-0002-6649-6489, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Built Environment University of Newcastle Australia), Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie (0000-0003-1775-8013, Charles Darwin University), Michael Odei Erdiaw‐kwasie (Lecturer at the Asia Pacific College of Business and Law Charles Darwin University Australia), Tracy Sidney Commodore (PhD Candidate at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research University of Ghana Ghana), Daniel Oviedo Hernandez (0000-0002-4888-3522, Lecturer at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit University College London United Kingdom), Daniel Oviedo (0000-0002-5692-6633, University College London), Michihiro Kita (0000-0001-8625-8819, Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University Japan)
Year2021
Volume46
Issue4
Pages903-927
Publication date2021-09-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisasters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/disa.12508
PMID34477244
OpenAlexW3196888937
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited75

Freetown, Sierra Leone, is confronted with health risks that are compounded by rapid unplanned urbanisation and weak capacities of local government institutions. Addressing them implies a shared responsibility between government and non‐state actors. In low‐income areas, the role of community‐based organisations (CBOs) in combating health disasters is well‐recognised. Yet, empirical evidence on how they have utilised their networks and coordinated community‐level strategies in responding to the COVID‐19 pandemic is scant. This paper, based on a qualitative study in two informal settlements in Freetown, employs actor‐network theory to understand how CBOs problematise COVID‐19 as a health risk, interact with other entities, and the subsequent tensions that arise. The findings show that community vulnerabilities and past experiences of health disasters informed CBOs' perception of COVID‐19 as a communal emergency. In response, they coordinated sensitisation and mobilisation programmes by relying on a network of actors to support COVID‐19 risk reduction strategies. Nonetheless, misunderstandings among them caused friction

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Betacoronavirus · Computer security · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Environmental health · Geography · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Outbreak · Pandemic · Poison control · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Sierra leone · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Community Development and Social Impact · Computer Science · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research · Virology