CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Coronavirus (COVID-19) started spreading in December 2019 and was noticed in early January 2020. It started spreading in China in mid- to late-January. Among the different types of confusion and information challenges, we need to recognize that COVID-19 is first and foremost a humanitarian challenge [1]. As of 24 March, 2020, the virus has caused the death of over 16,600 people worldwide with more than 380,000 people are confirmed as infected by it, of which more than 10,000 are serious. As many as 184 out of 195 countries are affected. Solving the humanitarian challenge is the key priority through proper preventive measures to stop its spread, as well as curative measure to develop a vaccine. The impact of this public health emergency has affected countries and communities in terms of economic, socio-psychological issues, as well as international relations. “We’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic”, said WHO Director–General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Munich Security Conference on 15 February 2020. WHO Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN) was launched as a new information platform after WHO declared COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The goal was to share customized information with specific target groups [2]. Finally, on 11th March, WHO declared it this as a pandemic. “We know that every outbreak will be accompanied by a kind of tsunami of information, but also within this information you always have misinformation, rumors, etc. We know that even in the Middle Ages there was this phenomenon. “But the difference now with social media is that this phenomenon is amplified, it goes faster and further, like the viruses that travel with people and go faster and further. So it is a new challenge, and the challenge is the [timing] because you need to be faster if you want to fill the void...What is at stake during an outbreak is making sure people will do the right thing to control the disease or to mitigate its impact. So it is not only information to make sure people are informed; it is also making sure people are informed to act appropriately.” Said Sylvie Briand, Director of Infectious Hazards Management at WHO’s Health Emergencies Program and architect of WHO’s strategy to counter the infodemic risk. This poses the real challenge of mitigating the risk occurring from Coronavirus

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

One of the key issues of the “invisible disaster” is obtaining correct information. In 2011, Japan had a triple disaster, caused by an earthquake-induced tsunami, which caused a nuclear meltdown. A that time, there was a severe panic in and around Japan about the level of radiation, which was also an invisible disaster. However, radiation could be measured, whereas the level of penetration of the virus is not measurable. Therefore, providing the right information from a reliable source is the key issue in this type of pandemic. Keeping this infodemic challenge in mind, this paper tries to analyze three months of happenings in China from December 2019 to February 2020, drawing and analyzing data from different Chinese websites, social media and research institutes. The value addition of this paper lies in the fact that original data were collected and analyzed in Chinese, and from Chinese social media. Although a characteristic information censorship exists in China, there were several positive and negative things that happened in the last three months. It is to this regard that the study is based on the effect of infodemic on corona virus on students of NOUN

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of the research work is to determine the effect of infodemic on corona virus on students of NOUN. The specific objectives of the study are:

1. to determine the relationship between the infodemic on corona and the attitude of NOUN student
2. to determine the effect of infodemic on corona virus on the adoption of preventive measures to the spread of corona virus among NOUN students
3. to determine the health implication of infodemic on corona virus on NOUN students
4. to recommends ways to control the infodemics on corona virus with national open Universities in Nigeria 

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study came up with research questions so as to ascertain the above stated objectives of the study. The following research questions guide the objectives of the study:

1. What is the relationship between the infodemic on corona and the attitude of NOUN student?
2. What is the effect of infodemic on corona virus on the adoption of preventive measures to the spread of corona virus among NOUN students?
3. What are the health implications of infodemic on corona virus on NOUN students?
4. In what ways can the infodemics on corona virus with national open Universities in Nigeria be controlled?

1.5 STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS

H0: infodemic on corona virus has no significant effect on students of NOUN

H1: infodemic on corona virus has significant effect on students of NOUN

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the effect of infodemic on corona virus on students of NOUN is very important in that study will explore infodemics on corona virus in Nigeria and how to prevent it. The study will also look at the reaction of NOUN students to the infodemics on corona virus. The study will serve as a repository of information to other researchers that desire to carry out similar research on the above topic. Finally the study will contribute to the body of the existing literature on the effect of infodemic on corona virus on students of NOUN

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study will cover on the effect of infodemic on corona virus on students of NOUN

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

INFODEMICS: An excessive amount of information concerning a problem such that the solution is made more difficult

CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19):

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and avoiding close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell.