This study investigated the knowledge and adherence to safety protocols among journalists serving as frontline workers in the COVID-19 fight in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was employed. Structured questionnaire served as instrument for data collection. The population of the study was all the one hundred and fifty-seven (157) registered journalists in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Stages of Change Model and Health Belief Model. Simple percentage, frequency table, bar chart, T-test and Pearson’s chi square tests were used to analyse the research questions whereas t-test and Pearson’s chi square test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significance level. Findings show that whereas majority of the respondents had good knowledge of Coronavirus personal protective measures, they lack the technicalities required to serve as frontline health workers in a highly infectious pandemic situation such as Coronavirus. The study recommends special training for journalists who cover pandemics, particularly highly infectious ones as Coronavirus to better equip them with the requisite skills for this genre of special assignment. Journalism training bodies and institutes could also consider the inclusion of pandemic reporting as part of specialized courses in journalism studies. Prioritizing vaccination of journalists who serve as frontline workers during pandemics is also strongly recommended.
Citation: Nwafor K., Nweke E. C, Orji Z.A. and Njoku J. (2022) Knowledge and Adherence to Safety Protocols among Journalists Serving as Frontline Workers in the COVID-19 Fight in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, International Journal of Ebola, AIDS, HIV and Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Vol.7, No.2, pp.17-34
Keywords: COVID-19, Journalists, pandemic reporting, quarantine centres, safety protocols
