Risk perception and impacts of non-conventional medicine on COVID-19 in West-Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly across the world and caused several economic, social, and demographic impacts. However, there were strong geographical disparities in these impacts of the disease risk perception. To control this pandemic, protective measures such as the use of non-conventional medicine was widespread in West-Africa. Nevertheless, little is known about its impact on risk perception.  To assess the impacts of socio-demographic factors and the use of non-conventional medicines on COVID-19 risk perception in West Africa, this study interviewed people in 4 West African countries (Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire). An online quantitative survey was conducted over 5 weeks period from 25 August to 2 October 2023 using Google form. Participants over 18 years old were eligible to participate. This online survey was supplemented by an in-person survey in the same countries to ensure inclusivity. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic characteristics, risk pe..., To assess the effect of socio-demographic factors and the use of non-conventional medicines on COVID-19 risk perception in West Africa, an online and in-person survey was conducted over 5-week period from 25 August to 2 October 2023 using Google form. Four countries were considered: Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Only participants over 18 years old were eligible to participate in the survey. The process of selecting participants for the in-person survey was based on selective data collection. It consisted of selecting a group of older people and a group of people with no formal education after observation and asking the participants. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic characteristics (Country, gender, age and education level), risk perception, affective attitude, use and effectiveness of non-conventional medicine, and various risk predictors. The risk feelings covered by 9 items and risk analysis related to 3 items. Other variables measured are related to affective attit..., , # Risk Perception and Impacts of Non-conventional Medicine on COVID-19 in West-Africa

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dv41ns279](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dv41ns279)

## Description of the data and file structure

To assess the effect of socio-demographic factors and the use of non-conventional medicines on COVID-19 risk perception in West Africa, an online and in-person survey was conducted over 5-week period from 25 August to 2 October 2023 using Google form. Four countries were considered: Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Only participants over 18 years old were eligible to participate in the survey. The process of selecting participants for the in-person survey was based on selective data collection. It consisted of selecting a group of older people and a group of people with no formal education after observation and asking the participants. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic characteristics (Country, gender, age and education level), risk perception, affective att..., , **Changes after Oct 10, 2024:** 

The initial file did not contain any metadata. To address this, a detailed description of each variable was added to a second sheet entitled 'Metadata', after which the entire file was converted to Excel format.

The new file, named 'Data_Risk_Perception_Non_Conventional_Medicine2.xlsx', contains the analytical data in the first sheet, titled 'Data_Risk_Perception_Non_Conven'.