Knowledge and Health-seeking Behaviour of Adolescents on COVID-19 in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has posed an enormous threat to global public health and the human social life, adolescents exposed to COVID-19 are as likely as old people to become infected and spread the infection. The study was conducted to determine the knowledge and health-seeking behaviour of adolescent during the COVID-19 pandemic in Rivers state Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional online study was conducted. An online Google-doc questionnaire administered via WhatsApp instant messaging was distributed during the national COVID-19 lockdown with interstate travel restrictions, school and market closures in Rivers state, Nigeria. About 200 responses were received within two months.

Results: About (45%) were middle adolescent (14-16 years) and 48% were males. Majority (80%) and (76%) respectively reported that droplets of affected person and surfaces touched by affected persons could spread COVID-19. However, some of the adolescents were not sure if touching of bank notes, dealing with pets, stool from public toilet, goods imported from China could spread coronavirus. Majority of the adolescents identified fever (86%), dry cough (85%), and difficulty in breathing (88%) as symptoms of COVID-19. About (54%) of the adolescents had ever felt ill and thought they might be infected with Coronavirus with fever (70.9%) as the major symptoms, of which (48%) tried seeking for help and more than half (56.3%) sought help from their parents.

Conclusion: Adolescents’ had poor knowledge on symptoms and spread of COVID-19, therefore continuous awareness is necessary to improve knowledge and curb the spread of the virus. Educational intervention to improve adolescents’ knowledge and health-seeking behaviours is recommended.