Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye; Ifedolapo Ademosu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11

| Peer-Reviewed

Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye, Ifedolapo Ademosu

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Received: 11 June 2023 Accepted: 28 June 2023 Published: 11 July 2023

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a test for the Nigerian government on how preventive measures and treatment procedures would be communicated, trusted, and accepted. This study therefore investigated the trust and mistrust that residents of Lagos and Kogi states had in the communication tools employed on COVID-19 prevention by the government from March-October, 2020. The study involved a Survey of 317 respondents selected through community contacts during the lockdown and four Focus Group Discussion (FGD sessions involving 24 participants selected purposively based on presence of both gender, age diversity, and literacy. A Spearman Correlation statistic indicated that trust in Federal government and government parastatals will influence trust in communication on the COVID-19 pandemic (r-value = 0.547, p-value = 0.000) but that trust in state government and parastatals will lead to distrust in federal government and parastatals where there is conflicting communication from both tiers of government (Cramer V value = 0.394, p-value = 0.012). The perception of Nigerian political system as corrupt has a negative influence on the public trust of communication from the government. Political actors therefore need to do something positive to reverse the negative perception ahead of another possible pandemic.

Published in	Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 11, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11
Page(s)	113-122
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Nigeria, Trust, Mistrust, Communication

References

[1]	Channels Television on Twitter: "We didn't lockdown in Kogi state, we went about our businesses and we were healthy. - Yahaya Bello, Kogi State Governor #SunriseDaily https://t.co/2vC3BlZNye" / Twitter
[2]	Cho, J., Chan, K., & Adali, S. (2015). A survey on trust modelling. ACM Computer Survey 48 (2).
[3]	Zaidin, N. (2015). E-WOM review adoption and green purchase intention: The application of source credibility theory (SCT). American Scientific Publishers X.
[4]	Bickham, S. B. & Francis, D. B. (2021). The public’s perceptions of government official’s communication in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Creative Communications 16 (2): 190 -202.
[5]	Anderson, M. R. (2010). Community psychology, political efficacy, and trust. Political Psychology 31 (1): 59–84.
[6]	Thomas, C. W. (1998). Maintaining and restoring public trust in government agencies and their employees. Administration and Society 30 (2): 166–192.
[7]	Hetherington, M, J. (1999). The effect of political trust on the presidential vote, 1968–96. American Political Science Review 94 (2): 311–326.
[8]	Miller, A, H., Listhaug, O. (1998). Policy preferences and political distrust: A comparison of Norway, Sweden and the United States. Scandinavian Political Studies 21 (2): 161–187.
[9]	Larson, Heidi J., Richard M. Clarke, Caitlin Jarrett, Elisabeth Eckersberger, Zachary Levine, Will S. Schulz & Pauline Paterson. (2018). Measuring trust in vaccination: A systematic review. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.: doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2018.1459252.
[10]	Siegrist, Michael. (2019). Trust and Risk Perception: A Critical Review of the Literature. Risk Analysis, Vol. 0, No. 0, 2019. DOI: 10.1111/risa.13325.
[11]	Cummings L. (2014). The “trust” heuristic: Arguments from authority in public health. Health Commun. Nov 26; 29 (10): 1043–56.
[12]	World Health Organisation (2017). Executive Summary. In: Communicating risk in public health emergencies: a WHO guideline for emergency risk communication (ERC) policy and practice. Geneva: World Health Organization; Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
[13]	Raufu A. (2002). Polio cases rise in Nigeria as vaccine is shunned for fear of AIDS. BMJ. 15; 324 (7351): 1414. doi: 10.1136/bmj.324.7351.1414/a. PMID: 12068855; PMCID: PMC1172186..
[14]	Murphy, John. (2004, Jan 4). Distrust of U.S. foils effort to stop crippling disease. Retrieved from The Baltimore Sun, https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-polio0104-story.html?ctrack=1&cset=true
[15]	Shore, David, A. (2003). Communicating in Times of Uncertainty: The Need for Trust. Journal of Health Communication, 8: 13–14, 2003.
[16]	Christensen, T., & Lægreid, P. (2005). Trust in Government: The Relative Importance of Service Satisfaction, Political Factors, and Demography. Public Performance & Management Review, 28 (4), 487–511. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3381308
[17]	Hartley, K., & Jarvis, D. (2020). Policymaking in a low-trust state: Legitimacy, state capacity, and responses to COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Policy and Society, 39 (3), 403–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2020.1783791
[18]	Ezeibe, Christian, C., Ilo, Chukwudi., et al (2020). Political Distrust and the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Global Public Health, Vol. 15 No. 12, 1753-1766. https://doi.org/10.1081/17441692.2020.1828987
[19]	Disu, Yahya., Egwuenu, Abiodun., Ajikobi, David., Kaduru, Chijioke., Bello, Hannatu & Erim, Abara. (2020). Infodemic Management: Nigeria Experience during COVID-19 Response. Submitted at WHO infodemic Conference November 26, 2020.
[20]	Williams, Simon Nicholas… (2020 November 9) Why trust is vital to public health strategy. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/why-trust-is-vital-to-public-health-strategy-149674.
[21]	Logan, Carolyn.; Howard, Brian & Gyimah-Boadi, E. (2020). Lessons from COVID-19 in Africa: Crisis and opportunity. Retrieved from https://www.aprm-au.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/APRM-GovernanceLink-Newsletter-May-Issue-8.pdf
[22]	Iroghama, Paul. (2012). Trust In Government: A Note From Nigeria. Knowledge Horizon. Vol.4 No 1-2, pp 38–45.
[23]	Oyeleye, Solomon, Abiodun. (2020). COVID-19: Are the statistics helpful? Retrieved from https://theeagleonline.com.ng/covid-19-are-the-statistics-helpful-by-solomon-a-oyeleye/
[24]	Knight Commission on Trust, Media and Democracy. (2019). Crisis in Democracy: Renewing Trust in America. Washington, D. C.: The Aspen Institute.
[25]	Oleribe, Obinna, Ositadimma et al. (2021). Perceptions and opinions of Nigerians to the management and response to COVID-19 in Nigeria. Pan African Medical Journal; 40 (185). 10.11604/pamj.2021.40.185.31824.
[26]	Adebowale, Nike. (2021, April). ‘Abba Kyari’s Burial: SGF Mustapha admits violations of COVID-19 protocols.’ Retrieved from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/388924-abba-kyaris-burial-sgf-mustapha-admits-violations-of-covid-19-protocols.html
[27]	Vinck, Patrick., Pham, Phuong, N., Bindu, Kenedy, K, B., Bedford, Juliet& Eric, Nille, J. (2019). Institutional trust and misinformation in the response to the 2018–19 Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, DR Congo: a population-based survey. Lancet Infect Dis 2019. Published Online March 27, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30063-5
[28]	Trapido, Joe. (2018). Ebola: public trust, intermediaries, and rumour in the DR Congo. Lancet Infect Dis 2018, p 1–2. doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30044-1.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye, Ifedolapo Ademosu. (2023). Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria. Science Journal of Public Health, 11(4), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye; Ifedolapo Ademosu. Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria. Sci. J. Public Health 2023, 11(4), 113-122. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye, Ifedolapo Ademosu. Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria. Sci J Public Health. 2023;11(4):113-122. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11,
  author = {Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye and Ifedolapo Ademosu},
  title = {Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {113-122},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20231104.11},
  abstract = {The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a test for the Nigerian government on how preventive measures and treatment procedures would be communicated, trusted, and accepted. This study therefore investigated the trust and mistrust that residents of Lagos and Kogi states had in the communication tools employed on COVID-19 prevention by the government from March-October, 2020. The study involved a Survey of 317 respondents selected through community contacts during the lockdown and four Focus Group Discussion (FGD sessions involving 24 participants selected purposively based on presence of both gender, age diversity, and literacy. A Spearman Correlation statistic indicated that trust in Federal government and government parastatals will influence trust in communication on the COVID-19 pandemic (r-value = 0.547, p-value = 0.000) but that trust in state government and parastatals will lead to distrust in federal government and parastatals where there is conflicting communication from both tiers of government (Cramer V value = 0.394, p-value = 0.012). The perception of Nigerian political system as corrupt has a negative influence on the public trust of communication from the government. Political actors therefore need to do something positive to reverse the negative perception ahead of another possible pandemic.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria
AU  - Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye
AU  - Ifedolapo Ademosu
Y1  - 2023/07/11
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 113
EP  - 122
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11
AB  - The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a test for the Nigerian government on how preventive measures and treatment procedures would be communicated, trusted, and accepted. This study therefore investigated the trust and mistrust that residents of Lagos and Kogi states had in the communication tools employed on COVID-19 prevention by the government from March-October, 2020. The study involved a Survey of 317 respondents selected through community contacts during the lockdown and four Focus Group Discussion (FGD sessions involving 24 participants selected purposively based on presence of both gender, age diversity, and literacy. A Spearman Correlation statistic indicated that trust in Federal government and government parastatals will influence trust in communication on the COVID-19 pandemic (r-value = 0.547, p-value = 0.000) but that trust in state government and parastatals will lead to distrust in federal government and parastatals where there is conflicting communication from both tiers of government (Cramer V value = 0.394, p-value = 0.012). The perception of Nigerian political system as corrupt has a negative influence on the public trust of communication from the government. Political actors therefore need to do something positive to reverse the negative perception ahead of another possible pandemic.
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye

Department of Mass Communication, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria
Ifedolapo Ademosu

Department of Mass Communication, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye, Ifedolapo Ademosu. (2023). Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria. Science Journal of Public Health, 11(4), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye; Ifedolapo Ademosu. Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria. Sci. J. Public Health 2023, 11(4), 113-122. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye, Ifedolapo Ademosu. Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria. Sci J Public Health. 2023;11(4):113-122. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11,
  author = {Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye and Ifedolapo Ademosu},
  title = {Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {113-122},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20231104.11},
  abstract = {The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a test for the Nigerian government on how preventive measures and treatment procedures would be communicated, trusted, and accepted. This study therefore investigated the trust and mistrust that residents of Lagos and Kogi states had in the communication tools employed on COVID-19 prevention by the government from March-October, 2020. The study involved a Survey of 317 respondents selected through community contacts during the lockdown and four Focus Group Discussion (FGD sessions involving 24 participants selected purposively based on presence of both gender, age diversity, and literacy. A Spearman Correlation statistic indicated that trust in Federal government and government parastatals will influence trust in communication on the COVID-19 pandemic (r-value = 0.547, p-value = 0.000) but that trust in state government and parastatals will lead to distrust in federal government and parastatals where there is conflicting communication from both tiers of government (Cramer V value = 0.394, p-value = 0.012). The perception of Nigerian political system as corrupt has a negative influence on the public trust of communication from the government. Political actors therefore need to do something positive to reverse the negative perception ahead of another possible pandemic.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Trust and Mistrust in a Pandemic: Evaluation of Acceptance of COVID-19 Communication Tools in Use in Nigeria
AU  - Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye
AU  - Ifedolapo Ademosu
Y1  - 2023/07/11
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 113
EP  - 122
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231104.11
AB  - The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a test for the Nigerian government on how preventive measures and treatment procedures would be communicated, trusted, and accepted. This study therefore investigated the trust and mistrust that residents of Lagos and Kogi states had in the communication tools employed on COVID-19 prevention by the government from March-October, 2020. The study involved a Survey of 317 respondents selected through community contacts during the lockdown and four Focus Group Discussion (FGD sessions involving 24 participants selected purposively based on presence of both gender, age diversity, and literacy. A Spearman Correlation statistic indicated that trust in Federal government and government parastatals will influence trust in communication on the COVID-19 pandemic (r-value = 0.547, p-value = 0.000) but that trust in state government and parastatals will lead to distrust in federal government and parastatals where there is conflicting communication from both tiers of government (Cramer V value = 0.394, p-value = 0.012). The perception of Nigerian political system as corrupt has a negative influence on the public trust of communication from the government. Political actors therefore need to do something positive to reverse the negative perception ahead of another possible pandemic.
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download