Risk Perception and Factors associated with Compliance to COVID-19 Preventive Measures among Commercial Drivers in Abakaliki Nigeria: An Imperative for Targeted Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts to control COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak has continued to ravage the world with high morbidity, mortality and economic hardship. The World Health Organisation reported that people are becoming complacent and their risk perceptions are lowering. Commercial drivers play significant role in outbreak control because of their regular mix with commuters from various sources. OBJECTIVES: We investigated risk perception and factors associated with compliance to COVID-19 preventive measures among commercial drivers. METHODS: This study involved 502 commercial drivers in Abakaliki Nigeria using cross-sectional analytic design. Data was collected with interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed with IBM-SPSS version 23. Inferential statistics were done using Chi-square and binary logistic regression tests with significance set at p-value of 0.05. RESULTS: The response rate was 502(98.4%) and mean age was 35.5±10.8 years. Majority of them were married 368(73.3%), had secondary education 279(55.6%) and operated commercial driving for 1-5 years 297(59.2%). There was high awareness, high-risk perception and good compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures in 99.8%, 69.1% and 54.4% of respondents respectively. Attaining tertiary education (aOR=6.5, 95% CI=1.5-28.1, p=0.012) and good knowledge of COVID-19 (aOR=4.3, 95% CI=2.7-6.8, p<0.001) significantly predicted high-risk perception while good knowledge of the disease alone predicted good compliance (aOR=5.5, 95% CI=3.6-8.3; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The awareness of COVID-19 is high but there is relatively lower risk perception and compliance with the preventive measures. We recommend improved public education, sensitization and risk communication as well as review of policies and adoption of new approaches about COVID-19 outbreak control.

CONTEXTE: Malgré les efforts déployés pour contrôler la pandémie de COVID-19, l'épidémie a continué de ravager le monde avec une morbidité, une mortalité et des difficultés économiques élevées. L'Organisation mondiale de la santé a signalé que les gens deviennent complaisants et que leur perception des risques diminue. Les chauffeurs commerciaux jouent un rôle important dans le contrôle des épidémies en raison de leur mélange régulier avec des navetteurs de diverses sources. OBJECTIFS: Nous avons étudié la perception du risque et les facteurs associés à la conformité aux mesures préventives COVID-19 chez les conducteurs commerciaux. METHODES: Cette étude a porté sur 502 chauffeurs commerciaux à Abakaliki au Nigeria en utilisant une conception analytique transversale. Les données ont été collectées à l'aide d'un questionnaire administré par l'intervieweur et analysées avec IBM-SPSS version 23. Les statistiques inférentielles ont été effectuées à l'aide de tests de régression logistique du chi carré et binaire avec une signification statistique définie à une valeur p de 0,05. RESULTATS: Le taux de réponse était de 502 (98,4 %) et l'âge moyen était de 35,5 ± 10,8 ans. La majorité d'entre eux étaient mariés 368 (73,3 %), avaient fait des études secondaires 279 (55,6 %) et avaient conduit pendant 1 à 5 ans 297 (59,2 %). Il y avait une sensibilisation élevée, une perception à haut risque et une bonne conformité aux mesures préventives COVID-19 chez 99,8 %, 69,1 % et 54,4 % des répondants respectivement. L'obtention d'un diplôme de l'enseignement supérieur (aOR=6.5, 95 % IC=1.5-28.1, p=0.012) et une bonne connaissance du COVID-19 (aOR=4.3, 95 % IC=2.7-6.8, p<0,001) prédisaient de manière significative la perception du risque élevé alors qu'une bonne connaissance de la maladie seule prédisait une bonne observance (aOR=5,5, IC à 95 %=3,6-8,3 ; p<0,001). CONCLUSION: La sensibilisation au COVID-19 est élevée, mais la perception des risques et le respect des mesures préventives sont relativement plus faibles. Nous recommandons d'améliorer l'éducation, la sensibilisation et la communication sur les risques du public, ainsi que l'examen des politiques et l'adoption de nouvelles approches concernant le contrôle de l'épidémie de COVID-19. MOTS CLÉS: chauffeurs commerciaux, perception des risques, COVID-19, conformité, mesures préventives.

Trends in measles cases in Bayelsa state, Nigeria: a five-year review of case-based surveillance data (2014-2018).

BACKGROUND: Measles is a vaccine preventable, highly transmissible viral infection that affects mostly children under five years. It has been ear marked for elimination and Nigeria adopted the measles elimination strategies of the World Health Organization (WHO) African region to reduce cases and deaths. This study was done to determine trends in measles cases in Bayelsa state, to describe cases in terms of person and place, identify gaps in the case-based surveillance data collection system and identify risk factors for measles infection. METHODS: We carried out a secondary data analysis of measles case-based surveillance data for the period of January 2014 to December 2018 obtained in Microsoft Excel from the State Ministry of Health. Cases were defined according to WHO standard case definitions. We calculated frequencies, proportions, estimated odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 449 cases of measles were reported. There were 245(54.6%) males and the most affected age group was 1-4 years with 288(64.1%) cases. Of all cases, 289(9.35%) were confirmed and 70 (48.27%) had received at least one dose of measles vaccine. There was an all-year transmission with increased cases in the 4th quarter of the year. Yenegoa local government area had the highest number of cases. Timeliness of specimen reaching the laboratory and the proportion of specimens received at the laboratory with results sent to the national level timely were below WHO recommended 80% respectively. Predictors of measles infection were, age less than 5 years (AOR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36-0.91) and residing in an urban area (AOR: 1.55, 95% CI:1.02-2.34). CONCLUSIONS: Measles infection occurred all-year round, with children less than 5 years being more affected. Measles case-based surveillance system showed high levels of case investigation with poor data quality and poor but improving indicators. Being less than 5 years was protective of measles while living in urban areas increased risk for infection. We recommended to the state government to prioritize immunization activities in the urban centers, start campaigns by the 4th quarter and continue to support measles surveillance activities and the federal government to strengthen regional laboratory capacities.