THE PERCEPTION OF MASS MEDIA AS TOOLS FORSENSITIZINGTHE PUBLIC ABOUT INFECTIOUS PANDEMIC: A CASESTUDYOFCORONA VIRUS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

The study examined on the perception of mass media as tools for sensitizingthepublic about infectious pandemic: a case study of corona virus in BeninCity, Nigeria. Survey method was adopted and the instrument used for data collectionwas the questionnaire. Using the Taro Yameni formula, 400 peopleweresampled from the population of 1,495,800 in Benin City being the capital ofEdo state, these Statistic figures of 2016 population census, during the causeofthis survey. 400 questionnaires were distributed through the city andall 342were retrieved. Data collected was analyzed in tables and simple percentages. The media play an important role in the dissemination of informationonthe2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The novel Coronavirusdisease 2019 (COVID-19), first identified in Wuhan China in December2019, has rapidly spread to almost every region of the world. To prevent spreadof thevirus, civil societies and government agencies embarked on enlightenment campaigns for good hygiene and social distancing. However, it is important tomeasure whether the population is receiving information that calms it down, aswell as whether such news are in accordance with the magnitude of the issue. This study assessed knowledge and perceptions about COVID-19 amongthegeneral public in Nigeria during the initial week of the pandemic lockdowninthe country. The findings affirm that Nigerians are highly knowledgeable about COVID-19 and their premier sources of information about the pandemic is thesocial media. Covid -19 pandemic is one of the major public health concernsinthe country. Using the mass media in creating the awareness throughmediacampaign of breast cancer has become imperative.