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Odeigah LO1, Obalowu IA2, Mutalub YB3, Abu JM4, Abikan KO5, Okeke K6, Ademola C7,Yusuf AR8
1. Department of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State
2. Department of Family Medicine, General Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State
3. Department of Family Medicine/Clinical Pharmacology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University/ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Bauchi State
4. Department of Family Medicine, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja
5. Department of Family Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State
6. Federal Polytechnic Medical Center ,Bida, Niger State
7. Department of Family Medicine, Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State
8. Department of Family Medicine, General Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State
Odeigah, L. O, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Received: October 1, 2021
Accepted: October 12, 2021
Published: October 13, 2021
1.1.Background: A pandemic of Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19), perhaps the most ravaging epidemic in contemporary history broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China in December 2019 with a significant global mortality of over seventy-five thousand so far and over 1.4 million infected people and still counting. Covid-19 infections have been reported in 204 countries of the world so far. Nigeria so far, has two hundred and thirty two positive cases, thirty-three have been treated and discharged home and five deaths have been reported. Twelve out of the thirty-two states of the federation have reported cases of Covid-19. The World Health Organization on January 30, 2020 declared the Corona Virus outbreak a global health emergency This, was quickly followed on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization’s Director General’s official declaration of the novel Corona Virus Disease as a pandemic. In Nigeria it appears that knowledge of Covid-19 is generally low with associated paucity of data on the subject matter. The aim of this research was to assess the awareness, knowledge and misconceptions about Corona Virus Disease in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods: This was a hospital based, cross sectional, descriptive study of four hundred respondents who attended the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Family Medicine Department Out- Patients Clinic, from 3rd February through 31st March, 2020. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographics, awareness, knowledge and misconceptions about Covid-19. Results: The minimum age of the respondents was 20 years while the maximum was 80 years. The mean age was 43.3150 ± 17.11133. There were more female 344(86.0%) than male 56(14.0%). Majority were married 264(66.0%). One hundred and nineteen (29.8%) had primary education, 171(42.8%) had secondary school education, while 82(20.5%) were without formal education. They were predominantly Muslims 288(72%) and of Yoruba ethnic group 358(89.5%). Majority of the respondents were traders 131(32.8%) and only (14.0%) were students. Although 370 (92.5%) had heard of Covid-19, only 16 (4.0%) knew the numbers to call when Covid-19 was suspected. In addition, one hundred and fifty six (39.0%) had poor knowledge of Covid-19, 102(25.5%) had a fair knowledge, while 142 (35.5%) had good knowledge of Covid-19. Eighty eight (22.0%) thought Covid-19 was treatable. Three hundred and twelve (78.0%) knew that neither definitive drugs nor vaccine was available for the management of the disease. Twenty six (6.5%) of the 88(22.0%) who thought that Covid-19 was treatable believed that traditional medication could cure Covid-19. The major source of information was through the radio 313(78.2%) followed by 37(9.3%) from neighbours while health workers were responsible only for 32 (8.0%). One hundred and fifty eight (39.5%) believed that Covid-19 was an air borne disease, 32(8.0%) believed it was transmitted through mosquito bites and 26(6.5%) by bacteria. Eighty nine (22.2%) had the right knowledge of Covid-19 being of viral origin. Seventy nine (19.8%), 76(19.0%), 53(13.2%) believed that traditional healers, spiritual healers and bathing with salt and hot water respectively could treat Covid-19 successfully. Conclusion: In Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, Covid-19 awareness is high, but comprehensive knowledge of Covid-19 is generally low with associated serious misconceptions. Radio is by far the preferred means for receiving information about the Corona Virus Disease. These public health gaps must be addressed to contain the pandemic that is currently ravaging the country even as at the time of writing this paper.
1.2.Keywords: Awareness; Knowledge; Misconceptions; Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19).
Over the past two decades, the world has faced the challenges of several infectious disease outbreaks. Ebola Virus Disease, Influenza A (H1N1), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Zika Virus and most recently, Covid-19, have had a massive global impact in terms of mortality, economic disruption, strain on local and global public health resources and above all, human health. The Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in Wuhan, China and spread very rapidly around the world [1]. Genomic analysis so far revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is phylogenetically like (SARS-like) Bat viruses, therefore Bats could be the possible primary reservoir [2]. The intermediate source of origin and transfer to humans is not known, however the rapid human to human transfer has been confirmed widely [2]. Patients with Covid-19 initially are asymptomatic and will later within the incubation period of 14 days present with non- specific symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory distress, acute respiratory distress syndrome and later may progress to multi-organ failure [3]. Patients are known to spread the virus and could infect others even while they are asymptomatic.
As at 30th March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of over 800,141 cases of Covid-19 and over 40,000 deaths. The first case of Covid-19 in Nigeria was an Italian engineer and consultant of a cement factory in Ogun State, a major gateway to the country, who became ill two days upon arrival from Italy on 11th March 2020. He was treated and has been discharged from the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Lagos. As at the 30th of March 2020, Nigeria had 139 cases, 8 had been treated and discharged home with 2 deaths [4]. Lagos State, the commercial capital of Nigeria is the epicenter of the outbreak in Nigeria. The Federal Capital Territory Abuja is closely following Lagos in terms of the number of cases with other cases reported in 9 of the 32 states that constitute Nigeria. Currently in Nigeria, most of the States are on lockdown with curfew imposed by the various State Governors in a bid to contain the pandemic in Nigeria. The Federal and State governments have responded by massive public enlightenment, setting up of more treatment centers, testing of those at risk especially contacts of those who have tested positive. There is also an aggressive contact tracing of contacts and this has been greatly facilitated by the total lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States. In a country with a weak health system where the annual health budget is less than 10% of the total national budget, there is panic and anxiety amongst the general populace especially from the news media about how Covid-19 is ravaging the highly industrialized countries of Italy, Spain, United States of America and China among others [5].
Very few studies in Nigeria have examined the awareness, knowledge and misconceptions of Covid-19 so far. With a low budgetary health allocation, a large population, a high level of illiteracy and poverty and a generally weak health system Nigerians are in fear, panic and anxiety [5]. This study will therefore fill a large gap of knowledge on this rapidly spreading pandemic in Nigeria and lessons learnt may help in containing the pandemic.
Following institutional ethical approval by the Ethical Review Committee of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Ilorin, the study was conducted at the Out-patients’ Clinic of the Family Medicine Department. Using Fisher’s Statistical Formula [6].
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