Porcine circovirus type 2 and its associated diseases in southwestern Nigeria: Farmers' perception and level of awareness.

Objective: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the most important causative agents of swine diseases that pose a global economic threat. Presently, there is little or no information on the perception and awareness of PCV2 and its associated effects among pig farmers in Nigeria. Therefore, this research was carried out to describe pig farmers' views, awareness, and likely impact of PCV2 and its associated postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) on pig production in the southwestern region of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of pig farmers in Oyo and Ogun states, Southwest Nigeria, was carried out with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A total of 111 farms out of the 385 required took part in the study, resulting in a total response rate of 28.8%. 89 (79.2%, 95% CI = 70.8-85.8) pig farmers who participated were unaware of PCV2, while 46 (41.4%, 95% CI = 32.7-50.7) had heard about PMWS. The level of awareness was generally poor, with an average score of 1.43 (SD ± 1.25; 23.9%). Only 23% (25/111) of the participants had a high level of awareness. To promote awareness about PCV2/PMWS, participants' most preferred sources of information were seminars, extension services (especially by veterinary and agricultural extension officers), social media (WhatsApp and YouTube), and mobile telephone (through calls or text messages). Conclusions: The present study showed a gap in the level of farmers' awareness about PCV2/PMWS, and to bridge the gap, more scientific-based evidence is needed to promote targeted educational programs and policy formulations. Also, with the dearth of information about PCV2, it is necessary to determine its prevalence and the characteristics of the virus possibly circulating within the swine herds in Nigeria.

University community-based survey on the knowledge, attitude and perception about COVID-19 pandemic: the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria as a case study.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is impacting social, economic and political patterns globally. To contain its spread, Nigeria like many other countries, imposed drastic measures such as lockdown/curfew. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) about COVID-19 pandemic among members of staff of a university community in Nigeria. University staff members contribute to national development through dissemination of specialized knowledge and skills and guiding the young generation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using an anonymous, self-designed, online KAP questionnaire was conducted from April 18 to May 31, 2020. The questionnaire consisted of ten knowledge questions regarding the transmission and prevention of COVID-19. The questions on attitude (15) and perception (10) assessed respondents' behaviour towards adherence to government policies and views on government efforts to contain the infection respectively. RESULTS: A total of 125 (teaching) and 102 (non-teaching) staff responded. Approximately 59.1% of the respondents were males. The mean knowledge and positive attitude levels were 70.8% (SD ± 9.6%) and 83.1% (SD ± 13.07 %) respectively. Significant differences in the knowledge mean scores were observed for demographic categories such as educational qualification (p = 0.001), staff work category (p ≤ 0.000), work background (p ≤ 0.000), and type of lockdown (p = 0.027). Most of the respondents (85.3%) opined that COVID-19 was a biological weapon and viewed the lockdown as necessary (81.5%). However, they thought that the Nigerian government was not doing enough to mitigate COVID-19 spread. CONCLUSIONS: The perception of COVID-19 in the university community bear implications across public health initiatives, compliance with precautionary behaviour and bilateral relations with foreign nations.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 pandemic) in Nigeria: Multi-institutional survey of knowledge, practices and perception amongst undergraduate veterinary medical students.

The novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic with an increasing public health concern. Due to the non-availability of a vaccine against the disease, non-pharmaceutical interventions constitute major preventive and control measures. However, inadequate knowledge about the disease and poor perception might limit compliance. This study examined COVID-19-related knowledge, practices, perceptions and associated factors amongst undergraduate veterinary medical students in Nigeria. A cross-sectional web survey was employed to collect data from 437 consenting respondents using pre-tested self-administered questionnaire (August 2020). Demographic factors associated with the knowledge and adoption of recommended preventive practices towards COVID-19 were explored using multivariate logistic regression at P ≤ 0.05. The respondents' mean knowledge and practice scores were 22.7 (SD ± 3.0) and 24.1 (SD ± 2.9), respectively with overall 63.4% and 88.8% displaying good knowledge and satisfactory practice levels. However, relatively lower proportions showed adherence to avoid touching face or nose (19.5%), face mask-wearing (58.1%), and social distancing (57.4%). Being in the 6th year of study (OR = 3.18, 95%CI: 1.62-6.26, P = 0.001) and female (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.11-4.41, P = 0.024) were significant positive predictors of good knowledge and satisfactory practices, respectively. While only 30% of the respondents perceived the pandemic as a scam or a disease of the elites (24.0%), the respondents were worried about their academics being affected negatively (55.6%). Veterinary Medical Students in Nigeria had good knowledge and satisfactory preventive practices towards COVID-19; albeit with essential gaps in the key non-pharmaceutical preventive measures recommended by the WHO. Therefore, there is a need to step up enlightenment and targeted campaigns about COVID-19 pandemic.