Public Perceptions, More Than Misinformation, Explain Poor Adherence to Proven COVID-19 Control Measures

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a profusion of studies and webinars on the infodemic (the rapid diffusion of information on the internet). The infodemic is often cited as a key factor in the lack of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, including vaccination. A study we conducted in West Africa questions the reality of this impact: the majority of people who do not adhere to the preventive measures draw their opinion from their own experience, not from what they have viewed or read on social networks. Historically, resistance to public health messages and interventions, including vaccination, existed before the advent of the Internet. Studying the perceptions of the population and not only the circulation of information is necessary to fully understand the lack of adherence to the COVID-19 preventive measures and to build an effective communication strategy.