Gaps in COVID-19 Information in Africa

A new survey from global market research firm Ipsos shows that while a majority of Africans have the proper knowledge and awareness of COVID-19, there are still some who either don’t believe its lethality or don’t trust their government with proper information.

Just 66 percent of respondents said they had trust in their government regarding information about COVID-19, and 67 percent responded that they felt they had enough information about the virus to make informed decisions. Zimbabwe and Cameroon were at the bottom of this list, with just 46 percent and 52 percent, respectively, responding that they had enough information.

Another 39 percent of Africans surveyed said they felt COVID-19 wouldn’t have a big impact on their health if they were to contract the virus. Tunisia and Senegal were at the top, with 76 percent and 55 percent, respectively, believing COVID-19 wouldn’t greatly affect their health.

Another part of the survey showed that just 40 percent of Africans had sufficient space in their home to isolate if needed. A vast majority also said they would quickly run out of food and clean water if supplies were disrupted due to COVID-19.

Ultimately, the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 is a worldwide problem that needs to be constantly counteracted. However, that’s especially true for those most at risk of COVID-19 and the ramifications of it infecting large populations within their country. For example, misinformation and lack of trust in government in African countries could have much higher consequences than misinformation spread in the U.S.