Awareness of Ebola Virus Disease and Information Seeking Behaviour of Rural Dwellers in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
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  • Awareness of Ebola Virus Disease and Information Seeking Behaviour of Rural Dwellers in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Awareness of Ebola Virus Disease and Information Seeking Behaviour of Rural Dwellers in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/FT.2021.008

Keywords

Awareness, Ebola, Epidemic, EVD, Health Information, Information Seeking Behaviour, Nigeria, Rural Dwellers

Abstract

Aim: The study investigated the awareness of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and information seeking behaviour of rural dwellers in Nigeria.

Methods: The survey type of the descriptive research design was used in conducting the study and the study group comprised adult rural dwellers (18 years and above) residing in six communities (Peretoru, Ekeremor, Obrigbene, Enougbene, Amabulou, and Aya-ama) in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Data were collected from 600 respondents who were randomly selected from the six communities. The data from the study were then analysed using frequency count and percentages. The results were presented in charts (and graphs).

Results: The study revealed that rural dwellers possess low awareness of EVD and many of them do not bother to seek EVD information because they do not believe it exists.

Conclusion: Consequently, the study noted the need for the federal government to enhance structures that promote community engagements, especially at the time of the epidemic.

Author Biographies

Ebiye V. Edonkumoh, Niger Delta University

Ebiye V. Edonkumoh is a Lecturer at the Department of Library and Information Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in the field of Library and Information Science. Ebiye is a member of the Nigerian Library Association (further: NLA).

Margaret N. Ngwuchukwu, University of Nigeria Nsukka

Margaret N. Ngwuchukwu is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka. Her area of interest are Children's Librarianship, Law Librarianship, and Library services to Communities especially the Disadvantaged Groups. She is also a lawyer and an advocate for the less privileged persons in the society. Magaret is a member of several professional associations, including the Nigerian Bar Association and the NLA.

Promise I Ilo, University of Nigeria Nsukka

Promise I. Ilo is the University Librarian, at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Prior to this appointment, she had served as the University Librarian, Covenant University Ota and PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, all in Nigeria. Ilo obtained her Masters and PhD degrees in Library  and Information Science from the University of Nigeria Nsukka in (2000) and (2017), respectively. She has about  forty eight publications in reputable local and international journals. She was the Chief Editor of Covenant Journal of Library and Information Science (CJLIS), an online journal of the Centre for Learning Resources, Covenant University Ota (2018-2020). Promise Ilo won the ALCTS Training Award of the American Library Association for librarians from developing countries (2019). She also holds the awards for the best graduating student (Dept. of Library Science) as well as the best graduating student (School of Education, Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu, 1989). Her research interests are Disaster management in libraries, Information and communication technology in libraries, Health information awareness among rural women, Library user education, among others. Ilo is a member of the Gideons International, Nigeria. She rendered various services on the platform of the Church Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (CACA) in the Diocese of Lagos West.

Omorodion Okuonghae, Samuel Adegboyega University

Omorodion Okuonghae is the Head of E-library Services at Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria. He has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Library and Information Science at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria (further: DSUA). He has published numerous scholarly publications in reputable local and international outlets in the field of Library and information science. He has also presented papers at many local and national conferences. Omorodion has received several awards and recognitions including the ‘Best Paper Presenter’ award at the 57th Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association, and the overall best graduating student recognition in the Department of Library and Information Science at DSUA, Nigeria. Omorodion is highly passionate about Librarianship, Emerging Technologies in Library, Information Literacy and Scholarly Communication. He is a member of the NLA.

References

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European Centre for Disease Control. 2014. “Rapid Risk Assessment: Outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa. Fourth update, 3 September 2014. Stockholm: ECDC; 2014.” https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid-risk-assessment-outbreak-ebola-virus-disease-west-africa-fourth-update-3.

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Kaliyaperumal, Karunamoorthi, and Ilango Kandan, Endale Aschalew. 2009. “Ethnobotanical survey of knowledge and usage custom of traditionalinsect/mosquito repellent plants among the Ethiopian Oromo ethnic group.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 125: 224-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.07.008.

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Monasch, Roeland, and M. B. Jalloh. 2014. “Study on Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Relating to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Prevention and Medical Care in Sierra Leone.” https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Ebola-Virus-Disease-National-KAP-Study-Final-Report_-final.pdf.

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Published

2021-11-24

How to Cite

Edonkumoh, E. V., Ngwuchukwu, M. N., Ilo, P. I., & Okuonghae, O. (2021). Awareness of Ebola Virus Disease and Information Seeking Behaviour of Rural Dwellers in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study. Folia Toruniensia, 21, 163–183. https://doi.org/10.12775/FT.2021.008

Issue

Vol. 21 (2021)

Section

Scientific and medical information

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