Role of optimism bias, knowledge, and demographic profile on perceived infectability to Lassa virus infection

Abstract

Background: Lassa fever is a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever with potentially severe morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the role of sociopsychological factors fueling it spread the role of optimism bias, knowledge about Lass a fever symptom, and demographic profile (gender and educational status) on perceived infectability to Lassa virus infection was investigated. Method: Three hundred and ninety-one residents of Irrua, a Nigerian community with endemic Lassa fever were selected using multi-stage sampling. The cross-sectional survey utilized 54-itcm questionnaire measuring optimum bias (r=.84); perceived infectability (r=.62); and knowledge of Lassa fever symptoms (r=.84) was used. Result: Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in analysis, with three hypotheses tested at p<0.05. Gender (x = 2.63; P<. 05) and educational status (x 2.53; P<.05) differences also affected perceived Lassa fever infectability; with females reporting significantly higher means (x 26.68± 6.94) than males (x 24.91±6.36). Participants with tertiary education reported higher perceived infectability (x 27.63±6.77) than participants with below tertiary education (x 25.10±6.24). Conclusion: These factors are pertinent in understanding perceived infectability/vulnerability to Lassa virus. Attention to these variables and their inclusion in preventive health education are critical in the present multi-disciplinary primary prevention of Lassa infection outbreak in the population.