Public risk perception and behaviours towards COVID-19 during the first and second waves in Nigeria: a secondary data analysis
Bassey Ebenso,
Chikwe Ihekweazu,
Kelly Osezele Elimian,
Chinwe Lucia Ochu,
Ehimario Igumbor,
Oluwatosin Wuraola Akande,
Lauryn Dunkwu,
Yahya Disu,
Michael Onoja,
David Olatunji,
Babasola O Okusanya,
Ifeoma Sophia Usuwa,
David O Akeju,
Samuel Ojima Adejo,
Sunday Eziechina,
Gloria Nwiyi,
James Olatunde Okediran,
Babafunke Fagbemi,
Adolor Aisiri,
Emmanuel A Agogo,
David Adewale Oke
Affiliations
Bassey Ebenso
Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds Faculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds, UK
Chikwe Ihekweazu
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria
Kelly Osezele Elimian
Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Chinwe Lucia Ochu
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria
Ehimario Igumbor
Prevention Programmes and Knowledge Management, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Oluwatosin Wuraola Akande
Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
Lauryn Dunkwu
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, London, UK
Yahya Disu
Prevention Programmes and Knowledge Management, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Michael Onoja
Surveillance and Epidemiology, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
David Olatunji
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria
Babasola O Okusanya
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria
Ifeoma Sophia Usuwa
Nigeria Field Epidemiology Training Programme, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
David O Akeju
Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Samuel Ojima Adejo
Department of Social Works, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Sunday Eziechina
Prevention Programmes and Knowledge Management, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Gloria Nwiyi
Prevention Programmes and Knowledge Management, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
James Olatunde Okediran
Nigeria Field Epidemiology Training Programme, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Babafunke Fagbemi
Department of Management and Program, Center for Communication and Social Impact, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Adolor Aisiri
Department of Research, Center for Communication and Social Impact, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Emmanuel A Agogo
Nigeria Country Office, Resolve to Save Lives, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
David Adewale Oke
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Objectives To describe changes in public risk perception and risky behaviours during the first wave (W1) and second wave (W2) of COVID-19 in Nigeria, associated factors and observed trend of the outbreak.Design A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional telephone-based surveys conducted during the W1 and W2 of COVID-19 in Nigeria.Setting Nigeria.Participants Data from participants randomly selected from all states in Nigeria.Primary outcome Risk perception for COVID-19 infection categorised as risk perceived and risk not perceived.Secondary outcome Compliance to public health and social measures (PHSMs) categorised as compliant; non-compliant and indifferent.Analysis Comparison of frequencies during both waves using χ2 statistic to test for associations. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses helped estimate the unadjusted and adjusted odds of risk perception of oneself contracting COVID-19. Level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results Triangulated datasets had a total of 6401 respondents, majority (49.5%) aged 25–35 years. Overall, 55.4% and 56.1% perceived themselves to be at risk of COVID-19 infection during the W1 and W2, respectively. A higher proportion of males than females perceived themselves to be at risk during the W1 (60.3% vs 50.3%, p<0.001) and the W2 (58.3% vs 52.6%, p<0.05). Residing in the south-west was associated with not perceiving oneself at risk of COVID-19 infection (W1—AOdds Ratio (AOR) 0.28; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.40; W2—AOR 0.71; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.97). There was significant increase in non-compliance to PHSMs in the W2 compared with W1. Non-compliance rate was higher among individuals who perceived themselves not to be at risk of getting infected (p<0.001).Conclusion Risk communication and community engagement geared towards increasing risk perception of COVID-19 should be implemented, particularly among the identified population groups. This could increase adherence to PHSMs and potentially reduce the burden of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
