A Cross-sectional Analysis of Kogi State Residents' Knowledge and Perceptions on COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract Coupled with the outbreak of Covid-19 in Nigeria, there has been a controversial trailing of the Covid-19 incidence in Kogi State involving the state authorities and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Giving the importance of appropriate awareness and the perceptions to curbing the spread of the disease, this study aimed at assessing the knowledge, perception and precautionary measures of Kogi state residents in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 401 residents in Kogi State Nigeria, with a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and Simple percentage in tables. Findings revealed that all the participants were aware of and had basic knowledge about Covid-19. The study participants had ample knowledge about the required preventive measures and how to protect themselves from Covid-19. It was also revealed that 45.2% of the respondents were conversant with the practice of three to more of the precautionary guidelines for preventing Covid-19. The study also found that a significant number of the respondents held a very low risk perception of Covid-19 by expressing an unlikely probability of getting infected by the virus. As regards skepticism and belief on coronavirus, 45.9% believed that Covid-19 is a hoax which was invented by interest groups for financial gains; 46.1% opined that the number of people reported by the NCDC as infected by the coronavirus in Nigeria is exaggerated. Again, 33.7% of the respondents believed that the second wave of the Covid-19 in Nigeria was a scam. The main source of Covid-19 information utilized by majority of the respondents was from Television programmes (34.2%) and Whatsapp (31.9%) platforms. The study concluded that while there was a high level of awareness of Covid-19 among residents of Kogi State and a remarkable level of precautionary practices against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, there are however, indications of misconceptions and misinformation that breeds skepticism and belief that may be detrimental to curbing effectively, the spread of the Covid-19 virus within the state.