Assessment of Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Intention to Adhere to Covid-19 Preventive Measures in Benue State, Nigeria. An Urban-Rural Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aims to compare Covid-19 knowledge, perception, and Intention to adhere to preventive measures among urban and rural dwellers in Benue State, Nigeria. A multi-stage comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among consenting adults 18yrs and above or emancipated minors aged 15yrs to 17yrs between January and April 2021 among urban and rural dwellers in Benue State. The response was scored, and each composite score were converted to a percentage. A score of ≥80% were categorized as positive perception, 51% to 79% were categorized as moderate perception, while scores ≤ 50% were categorized as negative perception. Urban and rural comparisons were done with Chi square test, and the corresponding p-values presented at 5% Cl. One thousand four hundred and thirty-one (1,431) respondents were recruited into the study with mean age 33.7years± SD 12.83. Forty-six (46%) percent of urban respondents believed positive Covid-19 patients would show no symptoms compared to 41% of rural respondents. One-third, 31% of urban respondents have a positive perception of Covid-19 existence compared to 21% in the rural areas (t=1.06; P< 0.469). Seventy-one percent of urban respondents have a positive perception of the seriousness of Covid-19 compared to 73% of rural respondents (t=0.99; p<0.95). 84% of respondents in the urban and 81% in the rural area have a positive perception on the Intention to carry out preventive measures against Covid-19 (t=0.87; p<0.09). knowledge differs among both communities; however there was a higher proportion of Perception with no significant difference observed among both communities.