Building Community Capabilities in Pandemic Response: Role of Mental Models held by Lay- People of Phenomena related to Covid-19

ABSTRACT

Various behavioural and other policy measures such as lockdown, information campaigns were implemented by different government agencies to contain the spread of Covid-19. Success of these policy measures is critically dependent on responses of lay-people to these measures. These responses are determined by mental models held by them of different phenomena involved in the spread of the disease. Understanding mental models of lay-people will help devise effective policy instruments for Covid-19 and future pandemics. Mental models are cognitive tools used by human beings to understand, explain, and make sense of physical and social phenomena around them. As a result, mental models determine their decisions and behaviour pertaining to these phenomena. This paper focuses on mental models held by lay-people of four core phenomena involved in spread of Covid, namely, transmission of the virus to the host body, entry of infection in the host body, its effect on the body, and recovery from the disease. Thematic analysis was carried out of the qualitative data collected using different methods at different public sites. The analysis will help articulate coalesced mental models to draw policy and theoretical lessons. © 2023 DMICS.