ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH INFORMATION LITERACY OF NIGERIANS ON THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC: A CROSS SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY

The study assessed the health information literacy level of Nigerian on the preventive measures and management of COVID 19 pandemic using online cross sectional survey. The research design adopted for the study is descriptive survey research design. Nigerians between the age of 15 and above made up the population of the study. Online survey using Google form was conducted between using social media platforms. To assess the health information literacy level of Nigerians on the preventive measures of COVID-19; a 25 objective questions constructed by the researcher called “COVID-19 Health Related Information Literacy Assessment Scale” was used. Data collected was analyzed using frequency distribution table and percentage. The null hypotheses one was tested using Mann Whitney U, while the hypothesis two was tested using Kruskal Wallis Test at 0.05 significance level. The computation and analysis of the data collected was performed with the aid of SPSS version 23. The study revealed that, the major sources of information for COVID-19 related health information among Nigerians are social media (facebook, twitter, whatsapp etc.), friends and family, radio programmes. the COVID-19 health literacy level of Nigerians is moderate. Though many scored high in the scale used, most of the respondents are incorrect in most of the advance questions such as recommended meter for social distancing, most appropriate way to wear face shield, contracting COVID-19 through books, spoons, plates among others touched by infected person, and even what to do after coughing or sneezing during COVID-19 among other technical and advance questions. Gender was not a significant factor in the COVID-19 Health Information Literacy Level of Nigerians on the preventive measures of COVID 19 pandemic; while there was a significant difference in the health information literacy level of Nigerians on the preventive measures of COVID 19 pandemic according to educational level, as Nigerians with higher level of education had higher COVID-19 Health Information Literacy level than those with lower educational level. The study recommended among other things that, Federal government should adopt more proactive measures of education Nigerians on the advanced ways to prevent and manage COVID-19. Also, in order to reach wider audience with little or no cost the government should mandate churches and mosques to devote few minutes for enlightening and educating their members on the global best practice in the prevention and management of COVID-1