Publication

Conspiracy theories within target populations in the developing world have the potential to threaten or even halt disease eradication programmes. Management of such beliefs is therefore essential. Populations who develop conspiracy beliefs against government or international agencies are frequently responding to perceived injustices from past experiences or to inequalities and dissonances in current experience. This paper argues that by addressing historical reasons for distrust, communicating openly, facilitating people-centered approaches, strengthening primary health care systems alongside vertical programmes, building accountability, and weighing the costs of a more coercive approach, these programmes will increase the likelihood that they will achieve, unhindered, their laudable goals.