(Mis)Information, Sources and Credibility: Targeting Youth in Public Health Response to COVID-19 in Uganda

Abstract

This chapter investigates the status of urban youths’ knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic and related prevention measures; their sources of information about COVID-19 and their trust in sources of information about COVID-19; credibility of urban youths’ sources of information about COVID-19; related prevention measures and the effect of the above on urban youths’ attitudes towards the adoption of preventive measures against COVID-19. An online survey and three focus group interviews were conducted to collect data. Results indicated that although the majority of young people in urban Uganda were knowledgeable about COVID-19, they also held various misconceptions about it yet this presence of cognitive dissonance, did not negatively affect their adoption of preventive measures. Instead, it worked as a motivator to find more information for change.

Citation

Napakol, A., Kitego, E. and Dralega, C.A. (2022), "(Mis)Information, Sources and Credibility: Targeting Youth in Public Health Response to COVID-19 in Uganda", Dralega, C.A. and Napakol, A. (Ed.) COVID-19 and the Media in Sub-Saharan Africa: Media Viability, Framing and Health Communication, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 77-98. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-271-620221006