COVID-19 Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Precautionary Behavior Among Nigerians: A Moderated Mediation Approach.

Steven K Iorfa,Peter O Olapegba,Joshua C Gandi,Olusola Ayandele,Iboro F A Ottu,Samson O Kolawole,Rotimi Oguntayo,Abdullahi L Dangiwa

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.566773

Abstract

The novel coronavirus has not only brought along disruptions to daily socio-economic activities, but sickness and deaths due to its high contagion. With no widely acceptable pharmaceutical cure, the best form of prevention may be precautionary measures which will guide against infections and curb the spread of the disease. This study explored the relationship between COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and precautionary behavior among Nigerians. The study also sought to determine whether this relationship differed for men and women. A web-based cross-sectional design approach was used to recruit 1,554 participants (mean age = 27.43, SD = 9.75; 42.7% females) from all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, through social media platforms using a snowball sampling technique. Participants responded to web-based survey forms comprising demographic questions and adapted versions of the Ebola knowledge scale, SARS risk perception scale, and precautionary behavior scale. Moderated mediation analysis of the data showed that risk perception mediated the association between COVID-19 knowledge and precautionary behavior and this indirect effect was in turn moderated by gender. Results indicate that having adequate knowledge of COVID-19 was linked to higher involvement in precautionary behavior through risk perception for females but not for males. It was also noted that awareness campaigns and psychological intervention strategies on COVID-19 related activities may be particularly important for males more than females. Drawing from the health belief model, we recommend that COVID-19 awareness campaigns should target raising more awareness of the risks associated with the infection to make individuals engage more in precautionary behaviors.

Highlights

The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to disruptions to health, economics, politics and social order all across the world
Higher COVID-19 knowledge was related to greater risk perception (r = 0.250, p < 0.01) and higher precautionary behavior (r = 0.18, p < 0.01)
COVID-19 knowledge predicted precautionary behavior and risk perception significantly predicted precautionary behavior

Summary

Introduction

The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to disruptions to health, economics, politics and social order all across the world. With no proven and acceptable pharmaceutical cure, the best way to curb the virus and prevent it from spreading, may be the adoption of precautionary behaviors (Güner et al, 2020; Wilder-Smith and Freedman, 2020; World Health Organization WHO, 2020b). Precautionary behavior such as quarantine of infected persons, social distancing (e.g., self-isolation, school, workplace and market closures, cancelation of large public gatherings, etc.) and hygienic practices (e.g., frequent handwashing with soap, using a face masks, use of hand sanitizers, etc.) have been identified as infection control measures which help curtail the spread of infections (Leppin and Aro, 2009). The challenge often is the knowledge and awareness level of individuals about the infectiousness of diseases (Hassan et al, 2017; Alam et al, 2020) and whether such knowledge will translate into precautionary behavior (Ho et al, 2013; Cain et al, 2018; Li et al, 2020)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion