College students’ knowledge, attitudes and adherence to public service announcements on Ebola in Nigeria: Suggestions for improving future Ebola prevention education programmes

Abstract

Introduction: Apprehension over a possible recurrence of Ebola remains pervasive among college students in Nigeria. Prevention education continues to be carried out through public service announcements (PSAs) on radio, television and in the social media. However, little is known about college students’ knowledge, attitudes and adherence to PSAs on Ebola virus. The purpose of this study was to investigate college students’ knowledge and attitude about Ebola and factors that predict adherence to Ebola education information mediated through PSAs. Methods: A total of 211 copies of structured questionnaire were administered to a multi-stage sample drawn from a medium-sized private university in Nigeria. Results: The majority of the participants responded correctly to the questions related to Ebola virus transmission. Nearly 86% of students agreed that Ebola can be contracted through the body secretions of a sick person, 83% students identified the basic symptoms of Ebola as fatigue and vomiting, while 82% agreed that regular washing of hands and use of hand sanitisers can prevent transmission of Ebola. Knowledge and attitudes emerged as significant predictors of students’ adherence to PSA advice on Ebola disease ( p < .05). Discussion: Misconceptions about the causes and transmission of Ebola abound in spite of the high awareness about the virus, suggesting that the Ebola PSAs may not have succeeded in dispelling some strongly held beliefs about Ebola virus disease. The findings suggest that a considerable percentage of college students no longer follow the advice contained in Ebola-related PSAs. It may be that the declaration that Nigeria is Ebola free by World Health Organization (WHO) has given rise to a lax attitude towards the disease. Conclusion: In spite of their shortcomings, PSAs remains an important vehicle for conveying Ebola prevention education to college students.