Perception of COVID-19 Pandemic Among Residents of a High Density - Low Income Area in Enugu City, Nigeria

Chukwuebuka Okafor (), Christian Madu (), Charles Ajaero (), Henrietta Ajaero (), Chinelo Nzekwe () and Loveline Nebo ()
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Chukwuebuka Okafor: SHELL Center for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, 410001, Nigeria
Christian Madu: SHELL Center for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, 410001, Nigeria; Department of Management and Management Science, Lubin School of Business, Pace University, New York, NY 10038, USA
Charles Ajaero: SHELL Center for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, 410001, Nigeria
Henrietta Ajaero: Department of Health Administration, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, 410001, Nigeria
Chinelo Nzekwe: SHELL Center for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, 410001, Nigeria
Loveline Nebo: Department of Estate Management, Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Enugu, 400103, Nigeria

Technium Social Sciences Journal, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 575-590

Abstract: Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection is increasing steadily in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to assess the perception of people living in low income and densely populated area about COVID-19. This study was carried out in one of the most popular low income area (Abakpa-Nike) in a major city in South East, Nigeria (Enugu). Four hundred questionnaires were administered to heads of the household in this community. A return rate of 77.5% was achieved. Descriptive (frequency, percentages, weighted average and median) and inferential statistics were used for the study. Our tests show that females are more likely to use facemask more frequently than males (p=0.000). However, there is no association between gender and frequent use of hand sanitizers (p=0.06). also, no association exists between gender and regular observation of social distancing (p=0.272). There was also an association between educational status and perception that Nigeria's tropical climate "kills" COVID-19 virus (p=0.021). No association exist between educational status and the perception that Nigerians immune system is "stronger" than COVID-19 virus (p=0.147). Therefore, National Center for Diseases and Control, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and pertinent state agencies should put into consideration educational attainment and economic status of the people in communication output.

Keywords: Perception; COVID-19; High Density; Prevention measures; Nigeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tec:journl:v:11:y:2020:i:1:p:575-590

DOI: 10.47577/tssj.v11i1.1480

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