Public Knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease and victim’s stigmatization in Lagos Nigeria.
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Date
2018
Authors
Oluwole, E.O.
Odugbemi, B.A.
Bakare, O.Q.
Akinyinka, M.R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Annals of Clinical Sciences
Abstract
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemics are associated with significant social stigma which is capable of disrupting the quality of life of the affected both directly and indirectly. Stigma is a major factor preventing access to health care services, which leads to late detection and treatment with further spread of EVD. Good knowledge is a critical component in increasing the likelihood of individual to adopt the prevention and health seeking behaviors. This research assessed the knowledge, factors affecting knowledge of EVD and victim's stigmatization in Lagos Nigeria.
METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional study among 1982 respondents aged 18 years and above from five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos State was conducted using semi structured and interviewer administered
questionnaire. Data obtained was collated and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Chi square was used to test for association between variables with level of significance set at p< 0.05.
RESULTS
The mean age of respondents was 32.4±9.9 years. Most 1936 (97.7%) of the respondents had heard about EVD. About half 1092 (55.1%) of the respondents had secondary level of education. Majority of the respondents (97.9 %) had good knowledge. About half (47.0%) and (51.0%) of the respondents believed EVD can be prevented by drinking salt water and bathing with salt water respectively. More than half of the respondents 1350 (69.3%) were not willing to live in the same house with someone who had been cured of EVD while 1405 (72.1%) would
not work in the same office with someone who had been cured of EVD and 1357 (70.8%) were not willing to allow their children to attend a school where student had died of EVD. Education was found to be statistically
significant with level of knowledge. (p< 0.001)
CONCLUSIONS
Most of the respondents had good knowledge of EVD but misconceptions and stigmatization towards EVD survivors and contacts exists. Knowledge was found to be statistically significant with education and stigmatization of EVD's survivors and contacts. Hence, we suggest community-based education on EVD
to correct misconceptions among the publics with emphasis on reduction of stigmatization towards EVD survivors and contacts.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Ebola Virus Disease , Lagos State , Epidemics , Stigma , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE::Social medicine
Citation
Oluwole Esther O, Odugbemi Babatunde A, Bakare Omowunmi Q, Akinyinka Modupe R. Public Knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease and victim’s stigmatization in Lagos Nigeria. Annals of Clinical Sciences 2018; 3(2): 26-33.