Exposure to Information, Knowledge, Perception, and Practices Towards COVID-19 among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Every person is at risk of contracting COVID-19, but people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), because of their weakened immune systems, stand a greater risk of contracting the disease and are likely to suffer more severe symptoms relative to people without such underlying diseases. Governments, international agencies, and non-governmental organisations have employed mainstream media, social media, and interpersonal channels extensively to educate the masses on the need to adopt effective safety protocols in the face of a lack of cure and vaccines that offer permanent protection from the disease. This study examined information sources as well as knowledge, perception, and practices toward COVID-19 among PLWHA in Abia State. The study adopted a survey research design and used the purposive sampling technique in the sample selection, whereas the questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The findings showed that more than 90% of the respondents were exposed to information on COVID-19 with family/friends, healthcare workers, and radio as the most common sources of information, while healthcare workers were the most trusted. Further analysis indicated a high level of knowledge of COVID-19 among PLWHA in Abia State, a lower perception of their own vulnerability, and moderate adherence to safety measures.