%0 Journal Article
%@ 2369-2960
%I JMIR Publications
%V 7
%N 1
%P e22273
%T Predictors of COVID-19 Information Sources and Their Perceived Accuracy in Nigeria: Online Cross-sectional Study
%A Erinoso,Olufemi
%A Wright,Kikelomo Ololade
%A Anya,Samuel
%A Kuyinu,Yetunde
%A Abdur-Razzaq,Hussein
%A Adewuya,Abiodun
%+ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, 1-5b Oba Akinjobi Road, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, 23401, Nigeria, 234 1 8950825, olufemierinoso@gmail.com
%K COVID-19
%K communication
%K health information
%K public health
%K infodemiology
%K infodemic
%K accuracy
%K cross-sectional
%K risk
%K information source
%K predictor
%K Nigeria
%D 2021
%7 25.1.2021
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Public Health Surveill
%G English
%X Background: Effective communication is critical for mitigating the public health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study assesses the source(s) of COVID-19 information among people in Nigeria, as well as the predictors and the perceived accuracy of information from these sources. Methods: We conducted an online survey of consenting adults residing in Nigeria between April and May 2020 during the lockdown and first wave of COVID-19. The major sources of information about COVID-19 were distilled from 7 potential sources (family and friends, places of worship, health care providers, internet, workplace, traditional media, and public posters/banners). An open-ended question was asked to explore how respondents determined accuracy of information. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA 15.0 software (StataCorp Texas) with significance placed at P<.05. Approval to conduct this study was obtained from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Health Research Ethics Committee. Results: A total of 719 respondents completed the survey. Most respondents (n=642, 89.3%) obtained COVID-19–related information from the internet. The majority (n=617, 85.8%) considered their source(s) of information to be accurate, and 32.6% (n=234) depended on only 1 out of the 7 potential sources of COVID-19 information. Respondents earning a monthly income between NGN 70,000-120,000 had lower odds of obtaining COVID-19 information from the internet compared to respondents earning less than NGN 20,000 (odds ratio [OR] 0.49, 95% CI 0.24-0.98). In addition, a significant proportion of respondents sought accurate information from recognized health organizations, such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Conclusions: The internet was the most common source of COVID-19 information, and the population sampled had a relatively high level of perceived accuracy for the COVID-19 information received. Effective communication requires dissemination of information via credible communication channels, as identified from this study. This can be potentially beneficial for risk communication to control the pandemic. 
%M 33428580
%R 10.2196/22273
%U http://publichealth.jmir.org/2021/1/e22273/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/22273
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33428580