Study update: Dial COVID - July 2021

This study update shares the second set of preliminary results of an R2HC study, which aims to assess uptake and validate a mobile telephone surveillance and mitigation tool (“Dial-COVID”) in refugee settlements in Uganda. The study also aims to understand refugees’ COVID-19 knowledge, risk perceptions, and barriers/facilitators to prevention and control measure adoption. Research is led by University of Washington with Infectious Diseases Institute and other partners.

The key takeaways of these preliminary findings are:

• 98 Dial-COVID participants reporting at least one COVID-19 symptom or exposure have been tested for COVID-19 using PCR testing. Twelve participants tested positive, 74 participants were negative, and twelve results are still pending. Confirmed cases were linked to appropriate treatment services and results were shared with the Uganda national COVID-19 response platform.
• The dramatic increase in national COVID-19 cases in Uganda over recent weeks highlights the importance of COVID-19 prevention and testing at this time.
• Through Dial-COVID, public health messages about COVID-19 have been shared during 8,882 calls.
• Preliminary analysis of 5 qualitative interviews suggests participants have a positive attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination and would be willing to be vaccinated if a vaccine was freely available to them.