Media Sources and Audience Compliance to Safety Messages on the Second Wave of Covid 19 in Aba Metropolis Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined media sources and audience compliance to safety messages on the second wave of covid 19 in Aba metropolis, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to identify the media/modes of communication available for updates of Aba residents on the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, determine if Aba residents complied/adhered to messages on the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, determine the extent to which Aba residents complied/adhered to messages on the second wave of the coronavirus and identify possible factors responsible for the seemingly sudden change of attitude of Aba residents to coronavirus pandemic information during the second wave of the scourge. The study adopted the survey research design. Questionnaire was used as the instrument of data collection for the study. The sample size for the study is 445. The study found out that majority of respondents (77%) did not comply/adhere to the messages of the coronavirus. This implies that the level of compliance was very low. The study conclude that since the compliance level is low in spite their exposure to different media and other sources of update on Covid-19, it shows that the factors other than media messages are responsible for the noncompliance or non adherence. The study recommends that the mass media should continue to educate the citizens on the need to use face mask and disabuse the believing by member of the public that covid-19 do not exist and that it is a scam by government to access funds from foreign donors. This can be done through the use of jingles and flyers.