Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents
Background: Perceived risk towards the coronavirus pandemic is key to improved compliance with public health measures to reduce the infection rates. This study investigated how Sub-Saharan Africans (SSA) living in their respective countries and those in the diaspora perceive their risk of getting in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89049 |
| _version_ | 1848765148128346112 |
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| author | Abu, E.K. Oloruntoba, Richard Osuagwu, U.L. Bhattarai, D. Miner, C.A. Goson, P.C. Langsi, R. Nwaeze, O. Chikasirimobi, T.G. Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G.O. Ekpenyong, B.N. Charwe, D.D. Mashige, K.P. Ishaya, T. Agho, K.E. |
| author_facet | Abu, E.K. Oloruntoba, Richard Osuagwu, U.L. Bhattarai, D. Miner, C.A. Goson, P.C. Langsi, R. Nwaeze, O. Chikasirimobi, T.G. Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G.O. Ekpenyong, B.N. Charwe, D.D. Mashige, K.P. Ishaya, T. Agho, K.E. |
| author_sort | Abu, E.K. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Perceived risk towards the coronavirus pandemic is key to improved compliance with public health measures to reduce the infection rates. This study investigated how Sub-Saharan Africans (SSA) living in their respective countries and those in the diaspora perceive their risk of getting infected by the COVID-19 virus as well as the associated factors. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey on 1969 participants aged 18 years and above (55.1% male) was conducted between April 27th and May 17th 2020, corresponding to the mandatory lockdown in most SSA countries. The dependent variable was the perception of risk for contracting COVID-19 scores. Independent variables included demographic characteristics, and COVID-19 related knowledge and attitude scores. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses identified the factors associated with risk perception towards COVID-19. Results: Among the respondents, majority were living in SSA (n = 1855, 92.8%) and 143 (7.2%) in the diaspora. There was no significant difference in the mean risk perception scores between the two groups (p = 0.117), however, those aged 18–28 years had lower risk perception scores (p = 0.003) than the older respondents, while those who were employed (p = 0.040) and had higher levels of education (p < 0.001) had significantly higher risk perception scores than other respondents. After adjusting for covariates, multivariable analyses revealed that SSA residents aged 39–48 years (adjusted coefficient, β = 0.06, 95% CI [0.01, 1.19]) and health care sector workers (β = 0.61, 95% CI [0.09, 1.14]) reported a higher perceived risk of COVID-19. Knowledge and attitude scores increased as perceived risk for COVID-19 increased for both SSAs in Africa (β = 1.19, 95% CI [1.05, 1.34] for knowledge; β = 0.63, 95% CI [0.58, 0.69] for attitude) and in Diaspora (β = 1.97, 95% CI [1.16, 2.41] for knowledge; β = 0.30, 95% CI [0.02, 0.58] for attitude). Conclusions: There is a need to promote preventive measures focusing on increasing people’s knowledge about COVID-19 and encouraging positive attitudes towards the mitigation measures such as vaccines and education. Such interventions should target the younger population, less educated and non-healthcare workers. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:30:38Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-89049 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:30:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | BMC |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-890492022-08-19T07:34:39Z Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents Abu, E.K. Oloruntoba, Richard Osuagwu, U.L. Bhattarai, D. Miner, C.A. Goson, P.C. Langsi, R. Nwaeze, O. Chikasirimobi, T.G. Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G.O. Ekpenyong, B.N. Charwe, D.D. Mashige, K.P. Ishaya, T. Agho, K.E. Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Africa Pandemic Diaspora Lockdown Risk perception Sub-Sahara Africa Knowledge COVID-19 RESPIRATORY-SYNDROME SARS IMPACT TRANSMISSION QUARANTINE Background: Perceived risk towards the coronavirus pandemic is key to improved compliance with public health measures to reduce the infection rates. This study investigated how Sub-Saharan Africans (SSA) living in their respective countries and those in the diaspora perceive their risk of getting infected by the COVID-19 virus as well as the associated factors. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey on 1969 participants aged 18 years and above (55.1% male) was conducted between April 27th and May 17th 2020, corresponding to the mandatory lockdown in most SSA countries. The dependent variable was the perception of risk for contracting COVID-19 scores. Independent variables included demographic characteristics, and COVID-19 related knowledge and attitude scores. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses identified the factors associated with risk perception towards COVID-19. Results: Among the respondents, majority were living in SSA (n = 1855, 92.8%) and 143 (7.2%) in the diaspora. There was no significant difference in the mean risk perception scores between the two groups (p = 0.117), however, those aged 18–28 years had lower risk perception scores (p = 0.003) than the older respondents, while those who were employed (p = 0.040) and had higher levels of education (p < 0.001) had significantly higher risk perception scores than other respondents. After adjusting for covariates, multivariable analyses revealed that SSA residents aged 39–48 years (adjusted coefficient, β = 0.06, 95% CI [0.01, 1.19]) and health care sector workers (β = 0.61, 95% CI [0.09, 1.14]) reported a higher perceived risk of COVID-19. Knowledge and attitude scores increased as perceived risk for COVID-19 increased for both SSAs in Africa (β = 1.19, 95% CI [1.05, 1.34] for knowledge; β = 0.63, 95% CI [0.58, 0.69] for attitude) and in Diaspora (β = 1.97, 95% CI [1.16, 2.41] for knowledge; β = 0.30, 95% CI [0.02, 0.58] for attitude). Conclusions: There is a need to promote preventive measures focusing on increasing people’s knowledge about COVID-19 and encouraging positive attitudes towards the mitigation measures such as vaccines and education. Such interventions should target the younger population, less educated and non-healthcare workers. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89049 10.1186/s12889-021-11600-3 English http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ BMC fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Africa Pandemic Diaspora Lockdown Risk perception Sub-Sahara Africa Knowledge COVID-19 RESPIRATORY-SYNDROME SARS IMPACT TRANSMISSION QUARANTINE Abu, E.K. Oloruntoba, Richard Osuagwu, U.L. Bhattarai, D. Miner, C.A. Goson, P.C. Langsi, R. Nwaeze, O. Chikasirimobi, T.G. Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G.O. Ekpenyong, B.N. Charwe, D.D. Mashige, K.P. Ishaya, T. Agho, K.E. Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents |
| title | Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents |
| title_full | Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents |
| title_fullStr | Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents |
| title_short | Risk perception of COVID-19 among sub-Sahara Africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents |
| title_sort | risk perception of covid-19 among sub-sahara africans: a web-based comparative survey of local and diaspora residents |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Africa Pandemic Diaspora Lockdown Risk perception Sub-Sahara Africa Knowledge COVID-19 RESPIRATORY-SYNDROME SARS IMPACT TRANSMISSION QUARANTINE |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89049 |