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 perception, affective attitude, use and effectiveness of non-conventional medicine, and various risk predictors. In total, 688 participants were recruited (online and in-person survey) with 79 excluded because they did not belong to the eligible countries. This data thus contains of the above information for 609 participants including 360 (59.11%) from the in-person survey. Among the 609 respondents, 171 (28.08%) were from Benin, 200 (32.84 %) from Côte d’Ivoire, 152 (24.96 %) from Togo and 86 (14.12 %) from Ghana.

Methods
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 attitude which includes 4 items, non-conventional medicine (2 items) and predictors of trust in government, media, and healthcare personnel (3 items).