Version of Record (VoR)
Ekpenyong, B., Abu, E. K., Langsi, R., Osuagwu, U. L., Oloruntoba, R., Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G. O., … Agho, K. E. (2022). Public awareness and perception towards COVID-19 in sub-saharan African countries during the lockdown. Health Promotion Perspectives, 12(2), 200-211. https://doi.org/10.34172/hpp.2022.25
Public awareness and perception towards COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan African countries during the lockdown
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a universal health crisis resulting in significant morbidities and mortalities particularly among high-risk groups. This study sought to determine regional factors associated with knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 mitigation practices and risk perception (KAP) of contracting the disease in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.
Methodology: A cross-sectional anonymous online study was conducted among 1970 participants between April and May 2020, during the lockdown in many SSA countries. Recruitment of participants was via WhatsApp, Facebook and emails using authors’ networks. The outcome variables were KAP of COVID-19 and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc test was run to assess the level of KAP by four regions in SSA. Simple and multiple linear regression (MLR) analyses were performed to examine factors associated with the outcome measures in the four SSA regions.
Results: Mean knowledge (P= 0.707) and risk perception (P= 0.904) scores by four regions in SSA did not differ significantly. However, the mean attitude score was higher among West Africans compared with Southern (P= 0.019) and Central Africans (P= 0.003). MLR analysis revealed that among those living in West (adjusted coefficient ꞵ =-0.83 95%CI: -1.19, -0.48) and Southern Africa (ꞵ = -0.91 95%CI: -1.42, -0.40), having a primary or secondary education was associated with a decrease in knowledge scores while not being worried about COVID-19 decreased risk perception scores across the four SSA regions(West [ꞵ = –6.57, 95%CI: –7.53, –5.62], East [ꞵ = -6.24: 95%CI -8.34,-4.15], Central [ꞵ = -6.51 95%CI-8.70, -4.31], and Southern Africa [ꞵ =-6.06: 95%CI -7.51, -4.60]). Except among Southern Africans, participants who practiced self-isolation had positive attitude towards COVID-19.
Conclusion: Future research on health education regarding COVID-19 or a future related pandemic in SSA should target people with lower education, those who don’t self-isolate, those living in Southern and Western Africa and not worried about contracting COVID-19.
Key words: Coronavirus; Africa; pandemic; awareness; risk perception; attitude.
Running title: Public awareness and perception towards COVID-19
Introduction
Upon the emergence of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there has been severe disruptions to both human and economic activities across the world.1 Several mitigation measures and guidelines to limit the spread of the virus were put in place by governments.2-4 With COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out globally,5,