Community Awareness, Perceptions, Enablers and Potential Barriers to Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rivers State, Nigeria
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Background: There are evidence that Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) reduce COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality across different regions.Nevertheless, there is poor compliance to the COVID-19 NPIs among residents, especially in the second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria.This study, therefore, explored the awareness, perception, enablers and potential barriers that influence compliance to the COVID-19 NPIs among the youth and adult population of Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods:This was a qualitative study that used twelve (12) focus groups, which comprised of a total of 120 participant (aged 18 -60 years) during the Christmas festivity period (18 th -20 th December 2020).Focus group exercise took place physically across 12 randomly selected districts in the three Senatorial Zones of Rivers State, Nigeria.The participants were of diverse socio-demographic characteristics of gender, ethnic, age and occupational and trade and social groups of Thematic analytical methods were used to analyse audio recordings.Results: The study found high community awareness of COVID-19 with low perceived risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.Their major sources of information were town-criers and conventional media platforms such as radio, with little mention of social media and community opinion leaders' influence.Poor compliance to NPIs were largely attributed to perception which was influenced by their belief of the non-existence of the virus; with emphasis on -no physical evidence of survivals and victims, social stigma, distrust of the authorities, incoherent policies, and lack funds to afford a mask. Conclusion:The high community awareness of COVID-19 virus was not a factor for positive public health behavioural change and compliance to NPIs.Perception borne from their current belief system can further complicate the efforts to ensure reduction in COVID-19 transmissions rate.The need for social medial platforms to influence behavioural change in communities cannot be overemphasized and should be strategically utilized.The study advises the need to NGOs and CSOs to produce and encourage the use of locally made reusable facemasks to reduce further escalation of the virus transmission.
Author: Golden Owhonda
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3197463542