KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION ABOUT COVID-19 AMONGST RESIDENTS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has challenged public health globally which causes the disease named, by the World Health Organization, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Edo State accounts for 3.07% of the total 245,856 cases in Nigeria. The objective of this paper was to assess the knowledge and perception of residents in Edo state, Nigeria toward COVID-19. A sample size of 281 was calculated using the adjusted Cochran formula for infinite sample size using an assumed prevalence of 0.24. A structured questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and distributed through online platforms. Knowledge of respondents was assigned scores and ranked as either good or poor. A total of 307 responses were completed and returned. The mean age of respondents was 37.3 years with a median value of 36. The overall knowledge of respondents was adjudged to be poor in 34.9% (N = 107) and good in 65.1% (N = 200) of respondents respectively. Good knowledge of respondents was significantly associated with an accurate indication of COVID-19 etiology, its spread, natural reservoir, therapeutics, and age groups at risk of infection. The perception that COVID-19 could be a fatal disease with no cure was indicated by 39.7% (N=122) of respondents. The media may serve as a readily accessible source of information but may misinform, disinform and sway public opinions. With the unprecedented ease of information dissemination due to current advancements in technology in recent centuries, there is the need to scrutinize the various mainstream sources of information.