Open AccessAwareness of Ebola Virus Disease and Information Seeking Behaviour of Rural Dwellers in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Author(s) -
Ebiye V. Edonkumoh,
Margaret N. Ngwuchukwu,
Promise Ifeoma Ilo,
Omorodion Okuonghae
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
folia toruniensia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2657-4837
pISSN - 1641-3792
DOI - 10.12775/ft.2021.008
Subject(s) - ebola virus , government (linguistics) , descriptive research , rural area , cross sectional study , environmental health , rural community , medicine , disease , geography , socioeconomics , sociology , pathology , social science , linguistics , philosophy
Aim: The study investigated the awareness of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and information seeking behaviour of rural dwellers in Nigeria.Methods: The survey type of the descriptive research design was used in conducting the study and the study group comprised adult rural dwellers (18 years and above) residing in six communities (Peretoru, Ekeremor, Obrigbene, Enougbene, Amabulou, and Aya-ama) in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Data were collected from 600 respondents who were randomly selected from the six communities. The data from the study were then analysed using frequency count and percentages. The results were presented in charts (and graphs).Results: The study revealed that rural dwellers possess low awareness of EVD and many of them do not bother to seek EVD information because they do not believe it exists.Conclusion: Consequently, the study noted the need for the federal government to enhance structures that promote community engagements, especially at the time of the epidemic.