To understand the perception of COVID-19 pandemic among adults in Enugu East Local Government Area (LGA) as a case study.

1. A presentation on
Knowledge, Perception and Practices of Coronavirus Pandemic Among
Adults in Enugu Urban, Nigeria
By
Dr Ruth Afunwa
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology,
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra state,
Nigeria
missruthus2000@yahoo.com
ra.afunwa@coou.edu.ng
4th November, 2021

2. OUTLINE
• Abstract
• Background of study
• Statement of the problem
• Purpose of the study
• Significance of the study
• Scope of the study
• Research method
• Results
• Summary of findings
• Discussion, conclusion and recommendation
• References

3. ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease is an infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-
CoV-2) commonly called COVID-19. It was first isolated from sellers of sea food in markets of Wuhan, South China
and it gradually spread to other continents, affecting most countries on the globe with high figures of mortality and
morbidity.
Aim: This study was carried out to determine the knowledge, perception and practices of adults resident in Enugu
East Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria.
Methods: Four hundred (400) questionnaires was used after validation. The study instrument comprised three
sections of 6 to 8 questions each.
Results: Three hundred and ninety two (98.0%) questionnaires were retrieved from respondents. The socio-
demographics profile showed higher male respondents (54.3%) and the educational qualification of respondents was
highest at the tertiary level with 83.9%. A Likert scale of 1 to 4 was used for all research questions in the survey.
Research questions on the perception of COVID-19, awareness level and practice had average values of 3.38, 2.57
and 3.16 respectively while the reliability test for questions on knowledge, perception and practice gave a Cronbach’s
coefficients of 0.788, 0. 568 and 0.609 respectively.
Conclusion: The study showed that adults in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State of Nigeria have
higher level of Perception and precautionary measures on COVID-19, but lower level of awareness. This suggests the
need for continuous sensitization on the importance of personal and environmental hygiene culture even in the post
COVID-19 pandemic era.
.

4. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
COVID-19 is an
infection caused by
severe acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus 2
(SARS- CoV-2)
Pathogenesis
Symptoms
Transmission
Diagnosis,
Prevention and
Management

5. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY CONTD
DEPENDENT VARIABLE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
Awareness
Knowledge
Prevention practices
Coronavirus pandemic

6. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
• Enugu East is a Local government Area of Enugu, Nigeria with a population
of 374,100 at the 2016. The work force is made of civil servants, traders,
entrepreneurs and artisans.
• The perception on the spread of Coronavirus disease is generally low.
• Non- compliance.
• Communal lifestyle
• However, there is paucity of data on knowledge, perception and practices of
Coronavirus pandemic among adults in Enugu Urban, Nigeria, as addressed in
this study.

7. Purpose of the study
The aim of the study was to:
Determine the
perception on
COVID-19 among
adults in Enugu East
Local Government
Area (LGA).
Investigate the
awareness levels
between male and
female adult
respondents in the
LGA.
Identify the
precautionary
measures used by
adult respondents
and the level of
compliance.

8. Scope of the study
• This study is limited to adults in Enugu East Local
Government Area of Enugu state.
• Adults were selected because they have higher level of
spread of the virus

9. RESEARCH METHOD
Research design: Survey.
Instrument for data collection: Questionnaire.
Arranged on a four point scale: Agree, Strongly agree, Disagree, Strongly disagree
• The instrument was validated by three experts in education.
• Data collected from the research questions were analyzed using Descriptive statistics in SPSS-
23
• Decision rule:
Agreed: Response with a mean of 2.5 and above
Disagreed: Response with a mean below 2.5

10. RESULTS
Fig 1: Socio-demographics
54.3
45.7
37.9
26.3
18.9
8.4
5.4
3.1
8
10.7
84.1
4.3
22.5
12
21.2 20.5
23.8
Male
Female
18-25
26-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
Above
65
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Informal
Civil
servant
Entrepreneur
Self-employed
Unemployed
Others
Gender Age Education Occcupation
Response (%)

11. RESULTS:
Fig 2: Level of Perception, Awareness and Precautionary measures of respondents
on COVID-19
3.38
2.57
3.16
Perception Awareness level Precautionary measures
Average Score
The mean value of all responses were above the decision rule of 2.5.

12. RESULTS SUMMARY
• The research questions were in three parts based on perception, awareness
level and preventive practices.
• Perception level was high as 3.38, above the decision rule of 2.5
• Although awareness level was 2.57, which was above the decision rule of 2.5,
it is lower when compared to perception and precautionary measures scores
• Precautionary measures was found to be 3.16, which was above the decision
rule of 2.5
• The reliability test for questions on knowledge, perception and practice gave a
Cronbach’s coefficients of 0.788, 0. 568 and 0.609 respectively.
• In summary, respondents had good knowledge about the COVID-19 outbreak
and on the preventive measures, but with low compliance level due in part to
the absence of reports on cases in the LGA.

13. DISCUSSION
The findings of this research suggest that the respondents have varying
knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides the awareness generated
through media, some of the respondents still do not believe in the reality of the
disease.
Some think the figures mentioned as infected persons are politically inclined and
have no correlation with the reality. This findings are similar to the reports by
Olapegba et al., 2020 and Serwaa et al, 2020.

14. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
Finding from this study revealed that adults in Enugu East Local
Government Area of Enugu State of Nigeria have higher level of
Perception and precautionary measures on COVID-19, but lower level of
awareness
Recommendations
• There is need for a continuous sensitization among people in the
different communities about the coronavirus through radio jingles, talk
show and documentaries
• Sharing of palliatives in the different communities so as to encourage
compliance against the spread of coronavirus.

15. REFERENCES
• Segre, J. A. (2013). What does it take to satisfy Koch’s postulates two centuries later? Microbial
genomics and Propionibacteria acnes. J Invest Dermatol. 133(9): 2141–2142.
doi:10.1038/jid.2013.260.
• Serwaa., D., Lamptey, E., Baffour Appiah, A., Kumi Senkyire, E., Kyeremeh Ameyaw, J. (2020).
Knowledge, risk perception and preparedness towards coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19)
outbreak among Ghanaians: a quick online cross-sectional survey. Pan Africa Medical Journal.
35(2):44. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.35.2.22630
• World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus: https://www.who.int/health- topics/coronavirus
• World Health Organization (WHO). WHO-Afro. More than 15 countries in Africa report COVID-19
cases: WHO-Africa: https://www.afro.who.int/news/
• Zhang H, Penninger JM, Li Y, Zhong N, Slutsky AS (2020). "Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
(ACE2) as a SARS-CoV-2 receptor: Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic
target". Intensive Care Medicine. 46 (4): 586–590. doi:10.1007/s00134-020-05985-9.
• Zhang L, Shen FM, Chen F, Lin Z. (2020). Origin and evolution of the 2019 novel coronavirus. Clin
fect Dis. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa112.

16. APPENDIX
The Questionnaire
Tick appropriately
Gender Male Female
Age range 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66 & above
Level of Education Primary Secondary Tertiary Informal
Occupation Civil servant Entrepreneur Self employed Unemployed Others
search Question 1: What is the perception of COVID-19 among adults in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State?
N QUESTIONS AGREE STRONGLY
AGREE
DISAGREE STRONGLY
DISAGREE
COVID 19 is caused by a virus
Incubation period of COVID-19 is 5–14 days
COVID 19 is transmitted by infected persons
COVID 19 is transmitted by droplets on surfaces
COVID 19 is transmitted by cough and sneeze
COVID 19 affects the respiratory tract
COVID 19 causes Fever and muscle pain
search Question 2: What is the awareness level between male and female adult respondents in the LGA?
Children cannot be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19
Pregnant women are more vulnerable to COVID-19 disease
Male and Female experience the same symptoms
COVID 19 mortality rate is higher in elderly persons
Recovery is faster in women than in men
There are regular reports about COVID-19 in your LGA
search question 3: What are the precautionary measures used by adult respondents?
COVID 19 can be prevented by wearing face mask
COVID 19 can be prevented by washing hands for 20 seconds
COVID 19 can be prevented by having good immune system
COVID 19 can be prevented by balanced nutrition
COVID 19 can be prevented by Vaccine
No drug treatment available for COVID 19
COVID 19 patient needs ventilator to survive
Do you observe the 2 meters physical distancing when talking with someone

17. Data presentation and analysis
Research Question 1: what is the perception of COVID-19 among adults in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State?
Table 1: responses on what is the perception of COVID-19 among adults in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State
S/N QUESTIONS A
4
SA
3
D
2
SD
1
RS
𝑹
X Decisions
1 COVID 19 is caused by a virus 191 186 7 8 1344 392 3.43 Agreed
2 Incubation period of COVID-19 is 5–14 days 221 150 16 5 1371 392 3.49 Agreed
3 COVID 19 is transmitted by infected persons 181 196 10 5 1337 392 3.41 Agreed
4 COVID 19 is transmitted by droplets on surfaces 194 165 23 10 1327 392 3.39 Agreed
5 COVID 19 is transmitted by cough and sneeze 170 202 16 4 1322 392 3.37 Agreed
6 COVID 19 affects the respiratory tract 154 218 14 6 1304 392 3.33 Agreed
7 COVID 19 causes Fever and muscle pain 192 128 44 28 1268 392 3.23 Agreed
Key: A= Agree, SA= Strongly agree, D= Disagree, SD= Strongly disagree, RS= Responses (Score), 𝑅 =summation of
responses, X= mean value

18. Summary of Question 1
S/N QUESTION Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7
(𝑸𝟏. 𝑸𝟕)
F X Decision
1 What is the
perception of
COVID-19 among
adults in Enugu East
Local Government
Area of Enugu State
3.43 3.49 3.41 3.39 3.37 3.33 3.23 23.65 7 3.38 Agreed
Key: Q= question, (𝑄1. 𝑄7)= summation of Q1-Q7, F= frequency, X= average mean score
A Likert scale of 1 to 4 was used for all research questions in the survey. All the questions under research question 1 had an
average values of 3.38 which is above the decision rule of 2.5, thus the decision is that all agreed 100%

19. Research Question 2: What is the awareness level between male and female adult respondents in the LGA?
Table 2: responses on what is the awareness level between male and female adult respondents in the LGA
S/N QUESTIONS A
4
SA
3
D
2
SD
1
RS
𝑹
X Decisions
1
Children cannot be infected with the virus that causes
COVID-19
58 23 174 137 786 392 2.01 Disagreed
2
Pregnant women are more vulnerable to COVID-19
disease
96 72 182 42 1006 392 2.57 Agreed
3
Male and Female experience the same symptoms 178 168 33 13 1295 392 3.30 Agreed
4
COVID 19 mortality rate is higher in elderly persons 122 218 35 17 1229 392 3.14 Agreed
5
Recovery is faster in women than in men 39 29 245 79 812 392 2. 07 Disagreed
6
There are regular reports about COVID-19 in your
LGA
98 35 159 100 392 392 2.33 Disagreed
Key: A= Agree, SA= strongly agree, D= Disagree, SD= strongly disagree, RS= Responses (Score), 𝑅 =summation of
responses, X= mean value

20. Summary of Question 2
S/N QUESTION Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6
(𝑸𝟏. 𝑸𝟔)
F X Decision
1
What is the awareness level
between male and female adult
respondents in the LGA?
of Enugu State
2.01 2.57 3.30 3.14 2.07 2.33 15.42 6 2.57 Agreed
Key: Q= question, (𝑄1. 𝑄7)= summation of Q1-Q6, F= frequency, X= average mean score
The sub questions under research question 2 had an average values of 2.57. Of the six questions asked, 50% disagreed while the
other 50% agreed but the mean responses value was above 2.5 thus the decision is agreed.

21. Research Question 3: What are the precautionary measures used by adult respondents?
Table 3: responses on what are the precautionary measures used by adult respondents
S/N QUESTIONS A
4
SA
3
D
2
SD
1
RS
𝑹
X Decision
1 COVID 19 can be prevented by wearing face mask 235 111 36 10 1355 392 3.46 Agreed
2 COVID 19 can be prevented by washing hands for 20
seconds
220 128 34 9 1341 392 3.41 Agreed
3 COVID 19 can be prevented by having good immune
system
173 156 54 9 1277 392 3.26 Agreed
4 COVID 19 can be prevented by balanced nutrition 172 100 106 14 1214 392 3.10 Agreed
5 COVID 19 can be prevented by Vaccine 160 111 87 33 1180 392 3.01 Agreed
6 No drug treatment available for COVID 19 173 80 112 27 1183 392 3.02 Agreed
7 COVID 19 patient needs ventilator to survive 161 129 78 24 1211 392 3.09 Agreed
8 Do you observe the 2 meters physical distancing when
talking with someone
191 85 90 26 1225 392 3.13 Agreed
Key: A= Agree, SA= strongly agree, D= Disagree, SD= strongly disagree, RS= Responses (Score), 𝑅 =summation of responses, X= mean
value

22. Summary of Question 3
S/N QUESTION Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8
(𝑸𝟏. 𝑸𝟔)
F X Decision
1
What are the
precautionary measures
used by adult
respondents?
3.46 3.41 3.26 3.10 3.01 3.02 3.09 3.13 25.48 8 3.16 Agreed
Key: Q= question, (𝑄1. 𝑄7)= summation of Q1-Q8, F= frequency, X= average mean score
All the questions under research question 3 had an average values of 3.16 which is above the decision rule of
2.5, thus the decision is that all agreed 100%