Infodemic During Pandemic: Policy Lessons For Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the wealth of information available in this digital age, many people do not double-check their facts, inadvertently propagating misinformation and contributing to the spread of an infodemic. The purpose of this research is to explore the ubiquitous infodemic during pandemics, with an emphasis on the COVID-19 pandemic. The report takes a cursory look at several situations in which misleading information impedes efficient risk health communication during the pandemic, as well as the implications for health professionals and risk communicators in terms of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. It investigates the infodemic that occurred in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic, the factors that may have contributed to it, the impact on health risk communication, particularly in terms of ensuring that healthcare professionals deliver the necessary preventive services, cases of such false information claims, as well as understanding the problem and making recommendations that policymakers and experts can use to avoid similar situations in the future. The paper mandates traditional and new media to provide the public with accurate and evidence-based information.