Wicked Problems in Risk Assessment: Mapping Yellow Fever and Constructing Risk as an Embodied Experience. (July 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Welhausen, Candice A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of business and technical communication. Volume 37:Number 3(2023)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 306
• Publication Date: 2023-07
• Subjects: risk communication -- yellow fever maps -- embodiment -- wicked problems -- public health; Business communication -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; 658.45
• DOI: 10.1177/10506519231161617
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-6519

Abstract

In this article, the author theorizes the process that a World Health Organization work group used to update yellow fever risk maps published in the Yellow Book, a handbook created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travelers, from a "wicked problems" perspective. She argues that using this model highlights the complexity of nonexperts' risk assessment practices in this context and that the work group's decision to create vaccination maps demonstrates an increased awareness of the embodied decision-making practices that nonexperts perform, aligning with and contributing to the growing emphasis on creating user-centered risk information that can be seen in some risk communication.