Open AccessResidents’ risk perceptions on Covid-19 and the impacts of social distancing in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Babatunde Femi Akinyode
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
urbana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2151-1896
DOI - 10.47785/urbana.2.2020
Subject(s) - social distance , worry , covid-19 , perception , public health , risk perception , psychology , distancing , environmental health , pandemic , disease , social psychology , medicine , socioeconomics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , sociology , nursing , psychiatry , anxiety , pathology , neuroscience
COVID-19 or Coronavirus, a recent devastating and marauding infectious disease, is indeed a worldwide problem and has become a public health emergency of international concern. This study aimed to examine the residents’ perception on COVID-19 and the impacts of social distancing in Nigeria. Quantitative technique was adopted in the study and the data was generated with the aid of computer based online questionnaire administration among 1567 respondents. Different analytical techniques such as mean and standard deviation scores, One-way ANOVA-test, average index and correlation analysis were performed. The study reveals positive relationship among factors that influence risk perception on COVID-19. Pearson Correlation analysis reveals strong relationship between residents’ worry about COVID-19 and lockdown for the control of coronavirus disease. High residents’ risk perception in Nigerian cities designates that COVID-19 is perceived as a health challenge and encourages most residents to maintain social distancing without considering numerous repercussions. Serious and urgent attention to alleviate these repercussions among the populace is of necessity.