Digital Media And Awareness Of Emerging Health Issues In Nigeria

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Over the years, social media has become an active technological tool in Nigeria; as well as a news and communication channel for the citizenry of Nigeria. Access to mobile telephony especially among the technologically savvy youths has made dissemination of information easy with a snap of the finger. In recent times, as the pandemic encroaches on and emasculates world activities, social media platforms have been utilized as an information outlet to citizens. Its significance has gained more recognition owing especially to the fact that the government implemented a lockdown policy to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Thus, it has become an active tool for engagement and communication for the dissemination of plausible information as well as incredulous (mis)information.

There is a growing body of literature on social media. A critical analysis shows change and continuity in communication and information technology. Let’s examine below some of the issues. Social Media is an offshoot of the Internet and according to DiMaggio et al. (2001, p. 307), the Internet refers to the electronic network or networks that link(s) people and information through computers and other digital devices; thereby allowing for person-to-person communication and information retrieval. The Internet is a major tool that emerged for the purpose of information dissemination; thus, the media acts as an information hegemon in terms of determining what information is made available to people as well as the impression people have on issues (Savrum & Leon, 2015). Largely, Social Media is the collection of websites and web-based systems that allow for mass interaction, conversation and sharing among members of a network (Murphy, 2013, p. 3). These diverse media outlets and communication networks played an important role in facilitating uprisings such as the Arab spring (AlSayyad & Guvenc, 2015, p. 2025). Its power lies in live pictures conveyed by video recording of events as it unfolds. The international livestreaming of events is capable of mobilizing a huge population of citizenry for positive or negative end. More so, it has played an important role in crippling dictatorial regimes. Unfortunately, these various outlets have been abused as unscrupulous people hide under its anonymity to defraud or relay false information. As the importance of social media is not lost on the general public for information engagement, its abuse in Nigeria especially during this emergency period is neither lost on any keen observer. Consequently, its advantages and disadvantages are highlighted in this paper.

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) is an infectious disease causes respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe respiratory difficulties. It originated from the Hunan seafood market at Wuhan, China where live bats, snakes, raccoon dogs, wild animals among others were sold in December 2019 (Shereen et al., 2020, pp. 91–98) and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 (WHO, 2020). Since its identification, the virus is said to have accounted for about 512,311 deaths globally out of a swooping statistic of 10,514,028 positive cases which sadly increases exponentially daily (WHO, 2020). The first victim of the virus in Nigeria was an Italian man who arrived in the country on the 25 February 2020. He was admitted to an Isolation Centre in Yaba Lagos after showing symptoms of the virus (NCDC 2020). Subsequently, the cases increased and, as at the time of this paper, almost 28,711 positive cases and 11,665 recuperated persons have been identified (NCDC, 2020).

Noticeably, Nigeria is trying to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19 through immediate lockdown of the major epicenters of Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja: commercial and administrative hubs of the country; where there have been spike of coronavirus cases. Some state governors have also taken proactive actions by closing their “borders” in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus. Other measures include prohibition of mass gathering of people at churches, sports arenas and burials while schools were closed nationwide. The achievement of these feats can be attributed not just to proper healthcare facilities but also to the impacts of social media in the country. Its platforms: WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have become varying means of communication and engagement by not just the government but by the general populace. Contrarily, social media is also utilized as a means of dissemination in disclosing news and information, which at most are based on assumptions and speculations. On this note, this paper intends to interrogate the use of social media as a tool for the good, the bad and the ugly.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

COVID-19 is a major issue that Nigeria government battles with since 2020. To curb the spread of the virus, the Federal government initiated several responses, including media campaigns to fight the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Leading the frontlines is the Federal Ministry of Health, supported by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) for the Control of the COVID19 and NCDC with the task of formulating and implementing policies and preventive measures, including inter-state and international travel bans, stay at home orders, restrictions on mass gatherings, closure of schools and businesses and cessation of non-essential movements.1 Also, NCDC, the government agency saddled with the responsibility of curbing the spread of COVID-19, embarked on informational and media campaigns, including social media campaigns, to create awareness of COVID-19 preventive and safety measures.

Since people are turning online for health information and with Fox and Duggan (2013) concluding that 72% of Americans source for health news online, online sources particularly social media have become a source of both authentic and fake news on health. Waszak, Kasprzycka-Waszak and Kubanek (2018) establish that 40% (that 2 in every 5 cases) of health information on social media was fake. Similarly, Sommariva et al. (2018) found out that 50% of information on the ZIKA disease in 2010 were rumours while Sell, Hosangadi and Trotochaud (2020) conclude in a study that 10% of Ebola-related tweets in the US in 2014 were not completely true. The above studies show that although social media are being patronised for health-related information, they can contain a lot of misinformation, disinformation and fake news. Since there are no known studies carried out to determine the importance of social media in raising awareness of corona virus in Nigeria, this research, therefore, aims to close this gap by interrogating the importance of social media in raising awareness of corona virus.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The primary aim of this study is to assess thedigital media and awareness of emerging health issues in Nigeria. Other objective of this study are:

Examine if emerging health issues information is been shared on digital media.

Determine the extent to which emerging health information is shared on digital media in Nigeria.

Determine whether digital media plays an important role in the dissemination of emerging health issues information.

Determine the extent to which social media users paid attention to the emerging health issues information provided online.

Find out the extent social media increased public awareness of the covid-19 pandemic.

1.4 Research Questions

Is theemerging health issues information been shared on social media?

What is the extent to which COVID-19 related information is shared on social media in Nigeria?

Does social media play an important role in the dissemination of COVID-19 related information?

What is the extent to which social media users paid attention to the COVID-19 related information provided online?

What is the extent social media increased public awareness of the covid-19 pandemic?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: The extent at which the social media increased public awareness of the covid-19 pandemic is low.

Ha: The extent at which the social media increased public awareness of the covid-19 pandemic is high.

1.4 Significance of the Study

This study would be relevant to the general public and also contribute to the body of knowledge. More so it will be a wake up call for social media content developers to enhance their efficiency while developing creative contents in order to curb the spread of corona virus. It will also heighten the awareness of social media users on the need to discard fake and invalid information about corona virus and its mode of infection. The study will enable government and policy makers on the need to monitor content shared on social media platforms in order to avoid sharing panic related message to the reading public as this is detriment to their disposition and could make them loose confidence on the government efforts towards fighting the novel corona virus.

This study will further add to existing literature on this topic and as well serve as a benchmark and eye-opener to students, scholars and researchers who may wish to carry out further research on this study or related domain in the future.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on the examine the important of social media in raising awareness of corona virus in Niger state. The respondents for this study will be obtained from social media users resident in Mina, Niger State.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

This research project, like all human endeavors, had some challenges that threatened to derail the study’s completion. One of the reasons is that the time allotted for this work was so limited that the researcher did not have enough time to complete the task thoroughly. During data collection, the researcher also had to put forth extra effort to understand the respondents’ interview schedules, several of whom fell into the incomprehensible age group. Also, there were financial and transportation constraints to deal with. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, interview).

1.9 Definition of Terms

Social Media:

This is the collection of websites and web-based systems that allow for mass interaction, conversation and sharing among members of a network. Its power lies in live pictures conveyed by video recording of events as it unfolds. Example of social media include Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Watsapp and others.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.

Information:

Information is a news or knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstance.

1.10 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows.

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.

Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.

Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.

Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.

Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on the digital media and awareness of emerging health issues in Nigeria. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was on digital media and awareness of emerging health issues in Nigeria.The study is was specifically set to examine if covid-19 information is been shared on social media, determine the extent to which COVID-19 related information is shared on social media in Nigeria, determine whether social media plays an important role in the dissemination of COVID-19 related information, determine the extent to which social media users paid attention to the COVID-19 related information provided online and find out the extent social media increased public awareness of the covid-19 pandemic.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 141 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent aresocial media users resident in Mina, Niger State.

5.3 Conclusions

In the light of the analysis carried out, the following conclusions were drawn.

Covid-19 information is been shared on social media.

The extent to which COVID-19 related information is shared on social media in Nigeria is high.

Social media plays an important role in the dissemination of COVID-19 related information.

The extent to which social media users paid attention to the COVID-19 related information provided online is high.

The extent at which the social media increased public awareness of the covid-19 pandemic is high.

5.4 Recommendation

The following recommendations were proffered with respect to the findings of the study;

Nigerians should follow and frequently read health messages on social media especially Whatsapp and Facebook since most health messages come from these two platforms.

Nigerians should ensure that while consuming health messages from social media, attention should be paid to the sources to ensure that they are reliable and credible.

Other social media platforms should encourage dissemination of health message in their platforms in order to increase the social media options of Nigerians to patronise rather than just almost absolute dependence primarily on Whatsapp and Facebook.