# A Preliminary Assessment of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Knowledge and Perceptions in Nigeria

## TL;DR

This study looked at how much people in Nigeria knew about and perceived the new coronavirus during the early days of the pandemic lockdown.

## Contribution

The study provides early insights into public knowledge and misconceptions about COVID-19 in Nigeria during the initial lockdown.

## Key findings

- Most respondents correctly identified airborne droplets as the main transmission method for COVID-19.
- A significant portion of respondents believed false claims, such as that the virus was a Chinese biological weapon.
- Traditional media like TV and radio were the primary sources of health information for most respondents.

## Abstract

This study assessed knowledge and perceptions about COVID-19 among the general public in Nigeria during the initial week of the pandemic lockdown in the country.

From March 28 to April 4, 2020, this cross-sectional survey used an anonymous online questionnaire to collect data from respondents within Nigeria. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit 1357 respondents, aged 15-70 years, from 180 cities and towns within Nigeria. Study data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Approximately more than half (57.02%) of the respondents were male with high level of education (48.86% bachelor’s degree or higher). Approximately half of the respondents (46.94%) opined that COVID-19 was “a biological weapon designed by the Chinese government.” About 94% of the respondents identified “contact with airborne droplets via breathing, sneezing, or coughing” as the most common mode of transmission; most respondents associated COVID-19 with coughing (81.13%), shortness of breath (73.47%) and fever (62.79%). “Regular hand washing and social distancing” was selected by most respondents (94.25%) as a way of preventing infection whereas 11.86% reported “consuming gins, garlic, ginger, herbal mixtures and African foods/soups” as preventive measures against COVID-19. Majority of the respondents (91.73%) thought COVID-19 is deadly; and most respondents (84.3%) got 4 or more answers correctly. It was also observed that the traditional media (TV/Radio) are the most common source of health information about COVID-19 (93.5%).

Findings revealed that Nigerians have relatively high knowledge, mostly derived from traditional media, about COVID-19. Their perceptions of COVID-19 bear implications across public health initiatives, compliance with precautionary behavior as well as bilateral relations with foreign nations. Evidence-based campaign should be intensified to remove misconceptions and promote precautionary measures.