Impact of Governance and Cultural Diversity on the Effectiveness of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions During Pandemics

In the field of public health, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant gaps in global emergency response systems, especially evident during the pre-vaccine period (before December 2020). During this time, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were critical as primary responses to control the spread. While vaccine developments and technological advancements are vital, the varying effectiveness of cross-national policies raises concerns over the sole reliance on biomedical approaches. This discrepancy underscores the need to thoroughly explore how different governance models and sociocultural dynamics interact to influence health outcomes. Existing research often separates governance metrics—such as government efficacy and health funding—from cultural factors affecting collective behavior, overlooking their interconnectedness. Empirical evidence, such as the success of Confucian circle countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, in curbing infection rates through social cohesion and shared responsibility, highlights the importance of these factors. Simultaneously, governance attributes like rule of law and universal health coverage have been linked to lower mortality rates, yet the combined influences of institutional and cultural mechanisms on pandemic results demand a more thorough investigation. Current public health policies often emphasize "precision prevention" with individualized focuses, lacking consideration for macro-level sociocultural mobilization's effectiveness.

This Research Topic examines how variations in governance structures and cultural landscapes influence the success of non-pharmaceutical interventions in pandemic responses. It investigates the interplay between governance and cultural diversity and their impact on the effectiveness of interventions.

To gather further insights into these multidisciplinary endeavors, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Significant regional differences in pandemic prevention and control efficacy observed worldwide

• Influence of governance models on pandemic control during pre-vaccine phases

• Synergistic interactions between governance structures and cultural contexts in shaping pandemic responses

Additionally, we invite contributions in the form of research articles, literature reviews, case reports, and perspectives related to the overarching theme of this Research Topic.