Social Sciences Working Group

The 21st century disease outbreaks, such as Ebola and Zika highlighted the need to use social science approaches and actions to fight deadly disease outbreaks and epidemics.

The ongoing establishment of The Global Health Network's 'COVID-19 Working Groups' aims to address the discussion and gather consensus on the emerging COVID-19 research gaps across low-resource settings. This working group is set up to work around Social Sciences studies in order to better understand the effects of the COVID-19 and which measures should be implemented.

Over 130 researchers from across the globe working or wanting to work in Social Sciences have come together in this group to discuss ideas, form collaborations, access funding as well as share outputs and resources that others can use. There is so much experience that can be applied here - let's use that to help this immediate need to supporting research everywhere there are cases, now!

Current work

On the 8^th June, The Global Health Network supported the first virtual team meeting for the ‘Social Sciences Open Working Group’. The meeting was organised in response to questions raised in the COVID-19 workshops, which highlighted the need for greater discussion of the impact that COVID-19 pandemic might have on vulnerable populations, mental health, and education:

• Do people perceive COVID-19 as a greater global threat than other worldwide crises (e.g. Climate Change)?
• What is the impact of fake news on managing the pandemic and in planning the way forward after this emergency period?

After a meeting with the team leaders on the 10^th of July 2020, using the themes identified in the report from the first meeting, it was decided that the WG would be best utilised splitting members into 2 subgroups working on the following themes:

• COVID-19 knowledge gaps and perceptions at the community level 

Following this first meeting of this subgroup held on 17^th July, (minutes can be accessed here) team leaders have drafted a protocol with the input of the larger group. This was then presented to the group through a zoom call on 31^st July. It was then posted on this page (at the bottom) and team members were given the opportunity to comment. Comments were then collated by mid August. The coordination team met on the 17^th of August again and has worked on incorporating the comments.

Final version of the protocols have been shared with TGHN. Team leaders finishing writing the Data collection tools, Informed Consents and Study SOPs (including data management, community engagement, infection control etc). These will be shared soon.

• The impact on the mental health of healthcare workers

Leaders have met on 17^th July, and two of them have decided to develop a protocol (view the minutes of this meeting can be access here). On 17^th August, leaders met again to go over objectives and methodology for this protocol (view the minutes). After having draft a first full protocol, another meeting was held on 28^th August (view the minutes), with the larger SS team leaders to gather input and review the protocol. Team leaders continued meeting to discuss study materials (09/10/2020  - 03/11/2020)

Final version of the protocols have been shared with TGHN. Team leaders finishing writing the Data collection tools, Informed Consents and Study SOPs (including data management, community engagement, infection control etc). These will be shared soon.

Working Documents

Here you are able to find all the working documents from the different WGs for you to comment on;

How to become part of this WG?

If you are interested please register and we will be in touch! We look forward to hearing back from you and hope we can work together to support a strong and equitable global research response during this pandemic.