Is social media, as a main source of information on COVID-19, associated with perceived effectiveness of face mask use? Findings from six sub-Saharan African countries

Abstract

Background: The use of face masks as a public health approach to limit the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been the subject of debate. One major concern has been the spread of misinformation via social media channels about the implications of the use of face masks. We assessed the association between social media as the main COVID-19 information source and perceived effectiveness of face mask use. Methods: In this survey in six sub-Saharan African countries (Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe), respondents were asked how much they agreed that face masks are effective in limiting COVID-19. Responses were dichotomised as ‘agree’ and ‘does not agree’. Respondents also indicated their main information source including social media, television, newspapers, etc. We assessed perceived effectiveness of face masks, and used multivariable logistic models to estimate the association between social media use and perceived effectiveness of face mask use. Propensity score (PS) matched analysis was used to assess the robustness of the main study findings. Results Among 1988 respondents, 1169 (58.8%) used social media as their main source of information, while 1689 (85.0%) agreed that face masks were effective against COVID-19. In crude analysis, respondents who used social media were more likely to agree that face masks were effective compared with those who did not [odds ratio (OR) 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.65]. This association remained significant when adjusted for age, sex, country, level of education, confidence in government response, attitude towards COVID-19 and alternative main sources of information on COVID-19 (OR 1.33, 95%CI: 1.01–1.77). Findings were also similar in the PS-matched analysis. Conclusion: Social media remains a viable risk communication channel during the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite concerns about misinformation, social media may be associated with favourable perception of the effectiveness of face masks.

Knowledge and Practice of Personal Protective Measures Against COVID-19 in Africa: Systematic Review

“…Higher rates of good attitudes and perceptions were also reported in Western Uganda [18] and Egypt [21], but a lower rate of perceived benefits of preventive measures was reported in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [22]. Similar findings of good perception were also reported in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan area of Uganda and in other 6 countries (Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), where a great majority of the residents believed that face masks were effective against COVID-19 spread and infection [23,24]. However, most individuals in Nigeria believed that COVID-19 was more of a hoax than a reality, and in several countries, preventive measures such as social distancing and face masking were perceived as imported policies that negatively affected their compliance with preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease [25,26].…”

“…As possible predictors, educational level, age, income, residence, frequency of PPE practice, PPE attitude, social media exposure, and perceived threat were associated with knowledge and perception of PPMs among the general population, HCWs, and other groups (taxi drivers and government employees) [18,23,24,42,43,68,70,71]. Moreover, practice location was notably significantly associated among HCWs [43] (Table 3).…”

Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, and Sources of Information (KAPS) Toward COVID-19 During the Second Wave Pandemic Among University Population in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Surprisingly, however, approximately three-quarters of the survey fillers noted that they get information directly from governmental press conferences. This result, when compared with the rest of the world, is unique (20,21). The Qatari government has proved to be a leader in information campaigns regarding this pandemic.…”

Effect of Surgical Masks and N95 Respirators on Anxiety

“…Currently, there are no clear guidelines directing the safe use of masks among individuals with emotional disorders. The survey found that more than one-half of respondents used social media as the main source of information on COVID-19 48 and information searches on social media were positively correlated with mask use. Findings of the present study can be used to analyze mask use in anxious patients, improve the public’s COVID-19-related health beliefs, and adjust mask-wearing recommendations.…”