Open AccessPERCEPTIONS OF COVID-19 INFODEMIC AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES IN AFRICA: INSIGHT FROM BENIN CITY RESIDENTS IN NIGERIA
Author(s) -
Emeke Precious Nwaoboli
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of engineering applied science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2455-2143
DOI - 10.33564/ijeast.2021.v06i05.008
Subject(s) - perception , covid-19 , dominance (genetics) , population , social media , sociology , social psychology , psychology , socioeconomics , political science , demography , medicine , law , biochemistry , chemistry , disease , pathology , virology , neuroscience , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , gene
This study was an examination of theperceptions of COVID-19 infodemic andconspiracy theories in Africa: Insight from BeninCity residents in Nigeria. The objectives of thestudy were to find out the perception of COVID19 infodemics and conspiracy theories in Africa;find out the various COVID-19 infodemics andconspiracy theories in Africa;and examine thelevel of dorminance of COVID-19 infodemics andconspiracy theories in Africa. The studypopulation was 544, 499. Four hundred copies ofquestionnaire were distributed while 389 wereretrieved and found usable. Findings from thestudy showed that there is still a huge dominanceand acceptance of COVID-19 infodemics andconspiracy theories in Africa. The study thereforerecommended that Africans should learn toalways verify all COVID-19 information storythey see and hear especially on social media assome of them are mere conspiracy theories andinfodemics.