Perception and determinants of Social Networking Sites (SNS) on spreading awareness and panic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Mohammad Omar Faruk; Popy Devnath; Sanchita Kar; Eshiika Afsana Eshaa; Hakka Naziat

doi:10.1016/j.hpopen.2022.100075

Perception and determinants of Social Networking Sites (SNS) on spreading awareness and panic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Health Policy Open. 2022 Dec:3:100075. doi: 10.1016/j.hpopen.2022.100075. Epub 2022 Jul 28.

Authors

Mohammad Omar Faruk¹, Popy Devnath², Sanchita Kar³, Eshiika Afsana Eshaa⁴, Hakka Naziat⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Statistics, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh.
² Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh.
³ Institure for Developing Science and Health Initiatives, Kalshi Road, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Microbiology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.
⁵ Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented and unique fallout worldwide and creates colossal disruption in human survival. During the pandemic, social networking sites (SNS) played a significant role in disseminating news related to the pandemic.

Methods: This research is based on primary data collected from 400 successful respondents via online Google Form. Bivariate Pearson's Chi-square and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the impact of the explanatory variables on the study variables.

Results: This study reveals that most respondents (n = 360, 90 %) use SNS to get up-to-date news, and 72.5 % (n = 290) read health-related information. The highest number of participants (n = 386, 96.5 %) were Facebook users. Multivariate binary logistic regression reveals that "reading news on SNS" and "sharing information related to COVID-19 on social media" significantly influence the spread of awareness of COVID-19. "Unauthentic news sources" and "stop using social media to stay away from panic" also have a substantial impact on the spread of panic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: SNS has become an inevitable medium of information carrier nowadays. Social media users are found significantly aware of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this study might assist the concerned persons in taking the necessary steps to propagate authentic news and regulate appropriate policies to prevent spreading misinformation.

Keywords: Awareness; Bangladesh; COVID-19; COVID-19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; IEDCR, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research; Misinformation; PSTD, Post-traumatic stress disorder; Panic; SNS, Social Networking Sites; Social networking site; Spread; WHO, World Health Organization.