Examining Health Risk Communication Strategies During Lassa Fever Outbreaks in Ondo State, South West Nigeria

Ondo State consistently records the highest burden of Lassa fever in Nigeria, and effective health risk communication during outbreaks is critical to controlling transmission and reducing community panic. This study examines the health risk communication strategies employed during the 2021 and 2022 Lassa fever outbreaks in Ondo State, assessing message content, channel effectiveness, audience reach, and community response. A retrospective mixed-methods evaluation is conducted, combining structured interviews with 35 health communication officers at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Ondo State Ministry of Health, and local government health teams, alongside a community survey of 320 residents in Ose and Owo local government areas where outbreaks were concentrated. The survey assesses community awareness, comprehension of prevention messages, trust in information sources, and adoption of recommended preventive behaviours. Content analysis is applied to outbreak communication materials, while thematic analysis codes qualitative interview data. SPSS is used for quantitative analysis. Evidence from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control's Lassa fever situational reports indicates that community misconceptions, late case presentation, and funeral exposure events contributed to outbreak amplification during the study periods. The Risk Communication and Community Engagement framework of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme guides the evaluation approach. Findings will strengthen Ondo State's Lassa fever communication strategy and contribute to national outbreak communication preparedness. Keywords: health risk communication, Lassa fever, outbreak response, community engagement, Ondo State.