Authors : Immaculata Nwakaego Akaneme, Eucharia Nchedo Nwosu, Chiedu Eseadi, Annah Chinyeaka Uloh-Bethels, Patience Okwudili Nwosu and Amuda Robinson
Abstract: Previous researches as well as media reports indicate that irrational health beliefs held by people was an impediment to the Ebola prevention efforts in the African region, especially in West Africa where the epidemic became seriously widespread. Although, it is possible to achieve a laudable defeat of the Ebola epidemic in part by restructuring people’s problematic beliefs about it, those who had been affected may begin to show emotional distress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other psychopathology in the post Ebola era. This being the case, this study describes how rational-emotive behavior therapy theory can be applied to help in the fight against the epidemic. The study systematically explored REBT therapists’ perspective on the use of rational-emotive behavior therapy interventions to address resistance against prevention efforts and increase community engagement against Ebola outbreaks in the African region in case of re-emergence in affected areas and/or emergence in previously unaffected communities; provide cognitive-behavioral based psychosocial support counseling for Ebola survivors and their familie and mitigate the perceived emotional distress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other psychopathology arising from the Ebola epidemic experience. We identified 600 REBT therapists from South-Eastern part of Nigeria and included them in this study through simple random sampling from the target population. Results show that the therapists indicated that REBT would be applicable and beneficial if used to address the Ebola virus disease outbreaks in the African region. We therefore concluded that a well-designed REBT health education prevention program that is culturally-sensitive is capable of helping community members and families not only to engage and cooperate with medical staff, national governments and international organizations in the management and containment of the Ebola virus disease but also effect a smooth psychosocial adjustments and overcome associated psychopathologies. The study’s limitations and implication for research and practice are also discussed.
Immaculata Nwakaego Akaneme, Eucharia Nchedo Nwosu, Chiedu Eseadi, Annah Chinyeaka Uloh-Bethels, Patience Okwudili Nwosu and Amuda Robinson, 2016. The Use of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy to Address the Ebola Outbreaks in the African Region. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 11: 75-88.