Assessment of knowledge, compliance, and public response to preventive strategies of COVID-19 pandemic in South West Region Nigeria

To flatten the epidemiological curve of COVID-19 in Nigeria everyone has a role to play. However, the implementation of the outlined preventive measures is dependent on the knowledge, compliance, and public response. A cross-sectional online survey study was carried out among Nigerians living in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International public health journal 2021-07, Vol.13 (3), p.289-299
Main Authors: Atekoja, Oluwabusolami E, Oyewumi, Zaccheus O, Jolayemi, Karimat I, Akingbade, Oluwadamilare
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Epidemiology
Fatalities
Gender
Mass media
Pandemics
Religion
Social networks
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Summary:To flatten the epidemiological curve of COVID-19 in Nigeria everyone has a role to play. However, the implementation of the outlined preventive measures is dependent on the knowledge, compliance, and public response. A cross-sectional online survey study was carried out among Nigerians living in the southwest geopolitical zone during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 821 participated in the study, 481 (58.9%) were female. Majority of the participants 554 (67.8%) held a bachelor's degree/polytechnic degree. Participants' mean score of COVID-19 knowledge was 11.8 (SD: 2.09 range: 0-15), suggesting an overall 78.6%. In multiple linear regression gender (β: 0.081, P < 0.05), Educational qualification (β: 0.198, P < 0.05), state of residence (β: -0.087, P < 0.05), religion (β: -0.107, P < 0.05), and state of financial stability (β: 0.094, P = 0.05) were significantly associated with lower knowledge score. 524 (64.1%) had good compliance. Multiple linear regression showed that age (β: 0.160, P < 0.05), gender (β: 0.078, P < 0.05), and religion (β: 0.067, P = 0.05) were significantly associated with compliance to preventive measures score. The study has shown good knowledge of COVID-19 although with some misconceptions. More efforts are needed to correct these misconceptions through public enlightenment via the mass media, social media and the internet which were found to be the major COVID-19 information channels. Compliance with precautionary measures must be stepped up if the goal of flattening the curve will be realized even as community transmission is already underway.
ISSN:1947-4989
2374-1023