ATTITUDES AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES TOWARDS COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG RURAL RESIDENTS OF SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN KOGI EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Attitude, COVID-19, Kogi East, Nigeria, Preventive practices, rural Residents.Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic created significant public health challenges, particularly for rural populations with limited access to healthcare and preventive resources. This study investigated the attitudes and preventive practices towards COVID-19 Pandemic in Selected Local Government Areas in Kogi East Senatorial District, Nigeria, and examined the relationship between attitude and preventive behaviour. A survey research design, and in-depth interviews was employed. The study was conducted in Ankpa, Dekina, and Idah Local Government Areas, with a sample of 422 respondents and 398 questionnaire were returned, selection of sample size was done using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and interview guides, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression, percentage and frequency count using SPSS version 21.0. The finding of generally positive attitudes toward COVID-19 characterized by high perceived seriousness and susceptibility despite mixed trust in government response represents a notable anomaly that warrants critical engagement. In Kogi State, the state government publicly questioned the presence and severity of COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic. The second major finding was that preventive practices were selectively adopted further illustrates how local economic and cultural realities shape behaviour. The study conclude that the importance of context sensitive public health strategies that combine risk communication with structural support to enable sustained preventive behaviour in rural, resource limited settings. The study recommends that Government and Non-governmental Organization should integrate livelihood sensitive support into rural health strategies. Pandemic interventions should include flexible work arrangements, temporary market support, or conditional relief to reduce barriers to adherence.
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