Social Acceptability of Quarantine in Public Health Emergencies: A Systematic Review

Background: Quarantine and isolation is an effective method of controlling outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. However, the effectiveness of these interventions depends on a high compliance rate, which is often compromised by multiple reasons to break quarantine or refuse isolation. In this systematic review, we highlight public attitudes and reactions towards quarantine including factors that may hinder quarantine measures during public health epidemics, public preferences for using quarantine during epidemics or infectious disease outbreaks and key considerations for the use of quarantine in public health epidemics.Methods: We searched five databases for publications on quarantine and isolation, and screened for empirical studies on social acceptability.Results: We found 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria. A review of the articles showed some factors could impede compliance with quarantine and isolation. These include the feelings of guilt and social distress, concern about loss of income, and self and social stigma and/or discrimination. On the other hand, compliance with quarantine and isolation was positively associated with perceptions of being a civic duty or fears of infecting loved ones. The articles concluded that, quarantine compliance can be enhanced through assurance of income and promoting safe interaction with loved ones during isolation/quarantine. Conclusions: This review provides public health experts, emergency planners, and policy makers with key considerations to improve public compliance with isolation and quarantine measures during public health emergencies.