Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South Nigeria
Background: Media channels increased COVID-19 pandemic uncertainty and disputes, hindering dissemination and acceptance of evidence-based health information. Socioeconomic, cultural, and developmental factors affect a community’s access to credible health information. This community-based study aim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.publichealthinafrica.org/jphia/article/view/2036 |
| _version_ | 1798001781325692928 |
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| author | Maureen Ntaji Ogochukwu C. Okoye Fredrick Aigbe John Ohaju-Obodo |
| author_facet | Maureen Ntaji Ogochukwu C. Okoye Fredrick Aigbe John Ohaju-Obodo |
| author_sort | Maureen Ntaji |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background: Media channels increased COVID-19 pandemic uncertainty and disputes, hindering dissemination and acceptance of evidence-based health information. Socioeconomic, cultural, and developmental factors affect a community’s access to credible health information. This community-based study aims to assess semi-urban residents’ understanding of COVID-19.
Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 384 multistage-sampled residents of the study site. Sociodemographic, psychographic, and COVID-19 and treatment knowledge were obtained using a semistructured questionnaire. Six questions were used to measure knowledge, which was deemed adequate (three or more correct answers) or inadequate (fewer than three correct responses).
Results: 54 out of 364 responders (14.8%) knew COVID-19. 68.9% of respondents stated citrus fruits or spices, 46.1% mentioned infection safety, and 13.3% mentioned chloroquine for prevention. Regarding treatment, 55.5% of responders reported chloroquine and 20.9% hydroxychloroquine. 17% chose ”none of the above.” Class I workers were four times more likely to have adequate knowledge than class V workers (p=0.019), while class III workers were 79% less likely (p=0.046). Males had 68%less knowledge than females (p=0.008).
Conclusions: In this study, adequate knowledge of COVID-19 was low and associated with higher socioeconomic class.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:41:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd1eec6b287b4f2b9cd8355e4b5d0d1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:41:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd1eec6b287b4f2b9cd8355e4b5d0d1d2022-12-22T04:25:48ZengPAGEPress PublicationsJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302022-09-0113310.4081/jphia.2022.2036Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South NigeriaMaureen Ntaji0Ogochukwu C. Okoye1Fredrick Aigbe2John Ohaju-Obodo3Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, OgharaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences. Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Nephrology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, OgharaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences. Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Cardiology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, OgharaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences. Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara Background: Media channels increased COVID-19 pandemic uncertainty and disputes, hindering dissemination and acceptance of evidence-based health information. Socioeconomic, cultural, and developmental factors affect a community’s access to credible health information. This community-based study aims to assess semi-urban residents’ understanding of COVID-19. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 384 multistage-sampled residents of the study site. Sociodemographic, psychographic, and COVID-19 and treatment knowledge were obtained using a semistructured questionnaire. Six questions were used to measure knowledge, which was deemed adequate (three or more correct answers) or inadequate (fewer than three correct responses). Results: 54 out of 364 responders (14.8%) knew COVID-19. 68.9% of respondents stated citrus fruits or spices, 46.1% mentioned infection safety, and 13.3% mentioned chloroquine for prevention. Regarding treatment, 55.5% of responders reported chloroquine and 20.9% hydroxychloroquine. 17% chose ”none of the above.” Class I workers were four times more likely to have adequate knowledge than class V workers (p=0.019), while class III workers were 79% less likely (p=0.046). Males had 68%less knowledge than females (p=0.008). Conclusions: In this study, adequate knowledge of COVID-19 was low and associated with higher socioeconomic class. https://www.publichealthinafrica.org/jphia/article/view/2036COVID-19 knowledgeCOVID-19 perceptionCOVID-19 treatmentCOVID-19 medicationsCOVID-19 preventionSelf-medication |
| spellingShingle | Maureen Ntaji Ogochukwu C. Okoye Fredrick Aigbe John Ohaju-Obodo Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South Nigeria Journal of Public Health in Africa COVID-19 knowledge COVID-19 perception COVID-19 treatment COVID-19 medications COVID-19 prevention Self-medication |
| title | Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South Nigeria |
| title_full | Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South Nigeria |
| title_short | Knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its treatment. A community-based survey in South Nigeria |
| title_sort | knowledge and perception of covid 19 and its treatment a community based survey in south nigeria |
| topic | COVID-19 knowledge COVID-19 perception COVID-19 treatment COVID-19 medications COVID-19 prevention Self-medication |
| url | https://www.publichealthinafrica.org/jphia/article/view/2036 |
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