ASPECTS OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PERCEPTION AND BELIEFS IN DELTA STATE
- Godfrey Ejiroghene Akpojotor,
- Emmabuel Morka,
- Abel Maviano Jonathan,
- Emmanuel Ozioma Michael,
- Wisdom Oghenevwogaga Egboduku,
- Newton Ighomaro Okposo,
- Benard Chinedu Okolugbo,
- Theodora Ogharanduku,
- Nathaniel Okpara,
- Ewomazino Oghenekome Odibo,
- Marcus Ifeanyi Ossiaugbo,
- Emmanuel Ofudjeye Ndakara,
- Otega Okinono,
- Callister Kidochukwu Obi,
- Benjamin Owhe-Ureghe,
- Nyerovwo John Tonukari,
- Goddey Patrick Nmorsi,
- Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga
Godfrey Ejiroghene Akpojotor
Centre for Research and International Programmes, Delta State University, Department of Physics, Delta State University
Emmabuel Morka
Department of Microbiology, Delta State University
Abel Maviano Jonathan
Department of Mathematics, Delta State University
Emmanuel Ozioma Michael
Department of Botany, Delta State University
Wisdom Oghenevwogaga Egboduku
Department of Botany, Delta State University
Newton Ighomaro Okposo
Department of Mathematics, Delta State University
Benard Chinedu Okolugbo
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University
Theodora Ogharanduku
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University
Nathaniel Okpara
Department of Physics, Delta State University
Ewomazino Oghenekome Odibo
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University
Marcus Ifeanyi Ossiaugbo
Department of Mathematics, Delta State University
Emmanuel Ofudjeye Ndakara
Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Delta State University
Otega Okinono
Department of Sociology and Psychology, Delta State University
Callister Kidochukwu Obi
Department of Economics, Delta State University
Benjamin Owhe-Ureghe
Centre for Biotechnology Research, Delta State University, Department of Microbiology, Delta State University
Nyerovwo John Tonukari
Department of Biochemistry, Delta State University
Goddey Patrick Nmorsi
Advanced Research Centre, Delta State University, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University
Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga
Vice Chancellor's Office, Delta State University, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University
Abstract
It is a sad commentary that after several months of the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, there are still very scanty local data and information on the virus. As a result, the country still relies on foreign data and information. The purpose of this preliminary study is to investigate the perception and belief of the pandemic in Delta State of Nigeria a month after the first index case in the state. A questionnaire of 27 items was designed to represent five research questions (RQs). Both the hard and electronic copies of the questionnaire were randomly administered to residents in the state. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages, bar and pie charts that are self-explanatory to make the results accessible and comprehensive to the general public. The results showed that many Deltans believed that the COVID-19 was real and not a product of the conspiracy theories. On the biological background of the disease, 89.3% of the respondents are conversant with the general clinical symptoms of COVID-19. Further, more of the respondents believed that both the elderly and people with health challenges were more likely to be killed by the virus. Remarkably, 70% of the respondents believe that the COVID-19 infection was preventable and curable and 60% of the respondents opined that Nigeria had the expertise to find a cure to the disease. However, 36.26% of the respondents opined that the response/handling of the pandemic by government and relevant agencies such as the NCDC is adequate while 50.5% of them have contrary view. Though many of the respondents believed that the closing of international borders, interstate land borders and obeying the government lockdown rules were responsible for the relatively low spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of the respondents (53.6%) did not believe that Deltans are committed to adhering to all the guidelines given by government during the easing of the lockdown. These findings on some aspects of epidemiological study have provided local information on the perception of COVID-19 pandemic in Delta State which is now in public domain for further discussion and possible adoption. We also provided a few recommendations which included the need to fill the gap in the local information and data in order to enhance the possibility of achieving efficacious local treatment of this disease.
