Figures & Tables
Figures
- FIGURE
Rumors on Coronavirus Disease in Côte d'Ivoire Coded by Topic,a March to August 2020
a Multiple codes could be applied to each rumor. Figure shows a subset of codes. The complete codebook can be found in the Supplement.
Tables
- TABLE 1
Overarching Themes of Rumors About COVID-19 in Côte d'Ivoire, March to August 2020
Theme Definition Denial of the reality of the virus and case estimates Questions or suspicions that the virus is a complete fabrication, or that it exists elsewhere but not in Côte d'Ivoire. Beliefs that the official case counts are false or deliberately misleading (often tied to the belief that the virus is not real) for a political or financial agenda. Origin and evolution of the pandemic Beliefs or conspiracy theories about where the virus originated and how and why the pandemic is progressing the way it is, including the belief that the pandemic has ended. Recommended public health measures Beliefs about prevention measures such as masks, distancing, reducing travel, quarantining if exposed, testing, and seeking treatment. These beliefs intersect with response efficacy (whether prevention measures work to prevent COVID-19), self-efficacy (whether people feel they can practice the behaviors or what factors stop them from being able to practice the behaviors), and conspiracy theories about secret or nefarious reasons these particular measures are recommended. Vaccine development and use Questions or statements about the COVID-19 vaccines, including their development, authorization, testing, and implementation. Alternative prevention and treatment methods Suggestions or beliefs about how COVID-19 may be prevented or treated outside of the official recommendations, including home remedies and religious or traditional approaches. Perceived risk or susceptibility Beliefs about who is at risk of infection, severe illness, or death - including comparison with other diseases and differentiating the level of risk by various sociodemographic factors (e.g., ethnicity, climate, age, profession, and wealth). Perceived severity and symptoms of the illness Beliefs about whether COVID-19 is serious or not, comparisons with the seriousness of other illnesses, and beliefs about specific symptoms. Abbreviation: COVID-19, coronavirus disease.
- TABLE 2
Themes, Belief Statements, and Illustrative Rumors About COVID-19 in Côte d'Ivoire, March to August 2020
Overarching Theme Associated Belief Statements Illustrative Rumors Denial of the reality of the virus and case estimates COVID-19 does not exist.
The government is overestimating case numbers for financial gain.
The government is hiding cases for political reasons.The number of people infected by coronavirus is purely a political calculation. —CC, Bouaké, April 9, 2020
They say that the government is increasing the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in order to benefit from the money that the WHO is dispersing for the countries that have coronavirus. —CC, Abidjan, April 13, 2020
Coronavirus never existed in Côte d'Ivoire —CC, Bouaké, August 28, 2020Origin and evolution of the pandemic COVID-19 was created in a laboratory.
COVID-19 is being intentionally spread to kill people.
COVID-19 is over.Coronavirus is made up of a group of viruses that were created in a laboratory —CC, Bouaké, June 25, 2020
COVID-19 was created intentionally for harm. —CC, Bouaké, July 13, 2020
Currently, the danger is not present anymore, and they continue to instill an irrational fear. —CC, Bouaké, August 28, 2020Recommended public health measures Recommended measures do not work or are dangerous.
It is dangerous or useless to seek testing or treatment for COVID-19.Masks are infected with COVID-19. Use the ones that are created locally. —CC, Abidjan, April 14, 2020
They say that the COVID-19 testing lefts are the places that transmit the illness —Hotline caller, Koumassi Port-Bouet Vridi, May 5, 2020Vaccine development and use A dangerous COVID-19 vaccine is disguised as a routine vaccine.
A COVID-19 vaccine is designed to infect or kill the population.
The state will force us to get vaccinated.There's a vaccine that transmits COVID-19, when you want to kill yourself, they inject you with the virus, you suffer, and after that you die. —CC, Bouaké, July 5, 2020 Alternative prevention and treatment methods Certain food or drinks will prevent or cure COVID-19.
Washing in a certain way prevents or cures COVID-19.
Certain medications prevent or treat COVID-19.
Sex cures COVID-19.
There is a new cure that is hidden from the population.Have sex constantly to kill coronavirus. —CC, Bouaké, March 16, 2020
It is said that the government says to eat everything that is hot and wash with hot water because it cures coronavirus. —Hotline caller, Grand-Lahou, April 29, 2020
They say that in Italy, the remedy against coronavirus has finally been found. —CC, Abidjan, May 22, 2020
Drinking cucumber water every morning is very effective for eliminating the COVID-19 virus. —CC, Bouaké, July 7, 2020
The medicine (remdesivir) existed before corona, they created their virus and also the medicine all this for money earned through the death of thousands of people. The world is fucked up. —CC, Bouaké, July 7, 2020Perceived risk or susceptibility COVID-19 does not kill or affect certain people (e.g., age, blood type, economic status).
COVID-19 does not kill or affect Africans or Black people.The coronavirus cannot catch a Black African because of his Black skin. —CC, Abidjan, March 9, 2020
The genetic composition of African blood resists coronavirus. —CC, Bouaké, March 12, 2020
Coronavirus doesn't kill children, but the virus attacks people who are very old and kills them. —CC, Bouaké, July 7, 2020Perceived severity and symptoms of the illness Closures and the economic effects of the pandemic are worse than the virus itself.
COVID-19 has weakened or is no longer a threat.Coronavirus kills faster than Ebola. —Hotline caller, Yopougon-Ouest-Songon District, May 4, 2020
Malaria is so much worse than COVID-19 in terms of mortality. —CC, Bouaké, July 5, 2020
Patients that survive COVID-19 always suffer from cardiac problems. —CC, Bouaké, July 5, 2020
One patient out of 20 will feel the symptoms of the illness again one month, even nearly 3 months after the first appearance of symptoms. —CC, Bouaké, July 7, 2020Abbreviation: CC, community contributor; COVID-19, coronavirus disease.
Supplemental material
- Supplement -
Supplement
- Supplement -
