Influence of Facebook for the Control of Covid-19 in Abia State (Aba)
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the influence of Facebook in ensuring the control of the spread of covid 19 in Aba, Abia state. Thus the following objectives;
- To determine whether Facebook can influence the people in Aba.
- Determine the extent to which Abaresidents depended on the Facebook for information during the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
- To determine whether the influence of Facebook can control the spread of Covid 19 in Aba.
- To determine the extent to which the Facebook can control the spread of Covid 19 in Aba.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literatures that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in four sub-headings:
Conceptual Framework
On December 31, 2019, the China Health Authority alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) to several cases of pneumonia of unknown aetiology in Wuhan City in Hubei Province in central China. The cases had been reported since December 8, 2019, and many patients worked at or lived around the local Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market although other early cases had no expo- sure to this market [Lu H, et’al 2020]. On January 7, a novel coronavirus, originally abbreviated as 2019-nCoV by WHO, was identified from the throat swab sample of a patient [Hui DS, et’al 2020]. This pathogen was later renamed as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the Coronavirus Study Group [Gorbalenya AEA 2020] and the disease was named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the WHO. As of January 30, 7736 confirmed and 12,167 suspected cases had been reported in China and 82 confirmed cases had been detected in 18 other coun- tries [Burki TK. 2020]. In the same day, WHO declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) [Burki TK. 2020]. According to the National Health Commission of China, the mor- tality rate among confirmed cased in China was 2.1% as of February 4 [NHC, 20205] and the mortality rate was 0.2% among cases outside China [WHO, 2020]. Among patients admitted to hospitals, the mortality rate ranged between 11% and 15% [Zhao J,Hu Y,et al.2020]. COVID-19 is moderately infectious with a relatively high mortality rate, but the information available in public reports and published literature is rapidly increasing. The aim of this review is to summarize the current understanding of COVID-19 including causative agent, pathogenesis of the disease, diagnosis and treatment of the cases, as well as control and prevention strategies.
The virus: Classification and origin
SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the family Coronaviridae and order Nidovirales. The family consists of two subfamilies, Coronavirinae and Torovirinae and members of the subfamily Coronavirinae are subdivided into four genera: (a) Alphacoronavirus contains the human coronavirus (HCoV)-229E and HCoV-NL63; (b) Betacoronavirus includes HCoV-OC43, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome human coronavirus (SARS-HCoV), HCoV-HKU1, and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV); (c) Gammacoronavirus includes viruses of whales and birds and; (d) Deltacoronavirus includes viruses isolated from pigs and birds [Burrell C, et al.2016]. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to Betacoronavirus together with two highly pathogenic viruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped and positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) virus [Kramer A, et al.2006].
SARS-CoV-2 is considered a novel human-infecting Betacoro- navirus [Lu R,et al.2020]. Phylogenetic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome indicates that the virus is closely related (with 88% identity) to two bat-derived SARS-like coronaviruses collected in 2018 in east- ern China (bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZXC21) and genetically distinct from SARS-CoV (with about 79% similarity) and MERS-CoV [Lu R,et al.2020]. Using the genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2, RaTG13, and SARS-CoV [Zhou P,et al.2020], a further study found that the virus is more related to BatCoV RaTG13, a bat coronavirus that was previously detected in Rhinolophus affinis from Yunnan Province, with 96.2% overall genome sequence identity [Zhou P,et al.2020]. A study found that no evidence of recombination events detected in the genome of SARS-CoV-2 from other viruses originating from bats such as BatCoV RaTG13, SARS- CoV and SARSr-CoVs [Zhou P,et al.2020]. Altogether, these findings suggest that bats might be the original host of this virus.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the Influence of Facebook for the control of Covid-19 in Abia state(Aba). Residents of Aba form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary
In this study, our focus was to carryout a critical analysis on the Influence of Facebook for the control of Covid-19 in Abia state. The study specifically was aimed at ascertaining the Application of Facebook in the fight Against COVID-19 in Aba Abia state Nigeria. This study reviewed and anchored its framework on Media System Dependency Theory (MSD) and the Information Society Paradigm (ISP). The Media System Dependency Theory (MSD) was enunciated by Sandra Ball-Rokeach and Melvin DeFleur in 1976. The theory explains that the length of time which people use for a particular medium, underscores the importance attached to that medium; and that the needs of an individual can be met through the use of a medium, which can result in a dependency.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 480 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are residents in Aba state State.
Data gathered and presented in table 1 shows that majority of respondents 300 representing 63% were male, while table 2 shows that majority of respondents 400 (200,200) representing 85% (42%, 43%) were SSCE, HND, BA, BSC and its equivalents respectively. This implies that the respondents were literate enough to understand the topic of discourse.
On the extent to which Aba residents depended on the Facebook posts for information during the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, table 3 shows the frequency of exposure to facebook information on coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria. Majority of respondents 400 (150, 250) representing 82% (30%, 52%) were exposed to facebook information on coronavirus. This means that respondents frequency of exposure to facebook information on coronavirus pandemic was very regular. The findings of this study is in consonance with the media system dependency theory major assumption which states that in time of crises or uncertainty, people will depend on the media to obtain information in order to reduce uncertainty and anxiety. Moreso, Noar (2006) notes that the mass media have long been used as a tool for promoting public health such that they are significantly used to expose high population of large populace to messages through routine uses of existing media such as television, radio and newspapers. Similarly, the findings of this study further buttress Akarika (2019) who notes that the media play a fundamental role in educating people about diseases and ailments, outbreaks, prevention, control and treatment.
Furthermore, table 4 shows the extent of Facebook dependency by respondents during the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria. Majority of the respondents 400 (240, 150) representing 82% (52%, 30%) depended on the media to a very great extent and great extent respectively. This means that majority of respondents depended on the media for information during the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria. The findings of this study confirms this author’s assertion that daily global updates on coronavirus pandemic information is trending immensely on radio stations, scrolled on television screens and broadcast on the social media. Moreover, with the liberalization of the telecommunication sector in Nigeria, which result in over 139 million active mobile phone users and an installed capacity of over 180 million lines (Monye, 2015) the media dependency level of Nigerians increased. Moreso, researchers have further emphasized that media dependency arises from audience trust which is tied to the media content.
Regarding respondents perception of the influence of the facebook during the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Table 7 reveals that majority of respondents 350 (250, 100) representing 73% (52%, 21%) perceived the influence of the media to be very satisfactory and satisfactory respectively. This means that residents were satisfied with the role the media played during the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. This findings agrees with the information society paradigm (ISP) which describes a greater dependence on, and trust in ICTs so that users can lead a normal life (Stassen 2010:123).
Conclusion
The major aim of this study was to evaluate Influence of Facebook for the control of Covid-19 in Aba, Abia state. The study found out that during health emergency situation like the covid-19 pandemic which was occasioned by anxiety, tension, fear and uncertainty, residents depended more on the media to obtain information that can help reduce tension and fear.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the foregoing, the study recommends the following:
- The social media should be objective, fair, honest and devoid of bias during health emergencies like covid-19 pandemic since a lot of media audience rely on them for health updates.
- Since the internet has altered information seeking behaviour of the audience in the 21st century, traditional media audience should upgrade to contemporary audience in order to access latest news on their social network platforms.
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