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Published on: September 12, 2014
COVID-19-related risk perception, anxiety and protective behaviours among Nigerian adults: a cross-sectional study
Tosin Philip Oyetunji1, Olusegun Ayomikun Ogunmola2, Timothy Tomiwa Oyelakin3
1Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Background:
Pandemics such as the current COVID-19 pandemic are often associated with heightened fear and significant adjustments in health behaviours.
Aim:
This study aimed to assess perceived risk, anxiety and protective behaviours of the general public during the early phase of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Nigeria.
Methods:
An online cross-sectional study among 1197 respondents aged 18 years and above between 27 April to 16 May 2020.
Result:
More than half (61.9%) of the respondents had high risk perception towards COVID-19, and high anxiety level was found in 37.2%. Male gender, being a Christian, having more than 12 years of formal education and high risk perception were positively associated with observance of more than one protective measure against COVID-19. The predictors of COVID-19-related anxiety were high risk perception and being a Muslim.
Conclusions:
This study showed that risk perception has an influence on both anxiety and observance of protective behaviours. Being a novel experience, this research has implications to support current and future responses to a pandemic experience.
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