EXPLORING THE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS OF NIGERIANS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Eyisi, I. M.

Healthy behaviors remain important for staying safe during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study, therefore, explored the healthy behaviors of Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 related news on healthy behaviors. Thirty-three (17 females and 16 males) participants from the general Nigerian population with age range of 23-64 years were recruited via social media using the snowball technique. Responses were elicited using semi-structured questions and subjected to thematic analysis. The healthy behaviors identified included; social distancing, changes in nutrition, hand washing or sanitizing, exercise, increased vigilance from those with comorbidities, and use of facemask. In another analysis, the impacts of COVID-19 related news on healthy behaviors were; behavior modification, anxious impacts, and fake news about COVID-19 caused people to stop listening to COVID-19 related news. Findings generated practical implications for enhancing healthy behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of the media in strengthening healthy behaviors during the pandemic was also highlighted.