COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP IN IBBU UNIVERSITY LAPAI

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the study

Infectious disease pandemics, including SARS and COVID-19, demand intrapersonal behavior change and present highly complex challenges for the general public in terms of health and social relationship. A pandemic of an airborne infection, spread easily through social contact, assails human relationships by drastically altering the ways through which humans interact, among such pandemic is the recent Covid-19 pandemic.  

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, emerged in Wuhan, China, near the end of 2019 and was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization. This resulted in the implementation of stay-at-home orders by various states or municipalities and numerous closures of non-essential businesses. Across the nation (and globe), higher education campuses closed in-person campus course meetings and pivoted to emergency remote learning.

Vaccine programmes were being rolled out in countries that could afford  them, but new and more contagious variants of the virus were also being discovered. The recovery journey looked long, with continued disruption to social relationships. The social cost of COVID-19 was only just beginning to emerge, but the mental health impact was already considerable, and the inequality of the health burden stark. Knowledge  of the epidemiology of COVID-19 accrued rapidly, but evidence of the most effective policy responses remained uncertain.

The initial response to COVID-19  was reactive and aimed at reducing mortality, with little time to consider the social implications, including for interpersonal and community relationships. The terminology of ‘social distancing’ quickly became entrenched both in public and policy discourse. This equation of physical distance with social distance was regrettable, since only physical proximity causes viral transmission, whereas many forms of social proximity (eg, conversations while walking outdoors) are minimal risk, and are crucial to maintaining relationships supportive of health and well-being. This study therefore relied on this premises to examine covid – 19 pandemic and its social relationship in IBBU University Lapai.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

            The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has imposed a threat on health, economy, social relations globally. As at mid-July 2020, the disease has spread

across 216 countries with a total of 13,150,645 confirmed cases and 574,464 deaths

1. In Nigeria, there has been confirmed cased of COVID-19 across the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In response to curtail the spread of the virus most countries of the world, including Nigeria have imposed restriction measure which led to total and or partial closure of the economy. In the process, economies are grinding to a halt, jobs and livelihoods are lost on scales never seen before. The impact is huge and increasing in low and middle-income countries, especially in Nigeria with over 202 million population (World Bank, 2020).  

1.3 Objective of the Studies

The general objective of this study is to examine the effect of Covi-19 pandemic and its social relationship in IBBU University Lapai.

The specific objectives is to

1. Assess the level of knowledge and awareness on COVID-19 pandemic among the students and staffs of IBB University. 
2. Examine the degree of access to social services especially during COVID-19.
3. Examine level of access to basic health facilities among during COVID-19.
4. Assess the effect of COVID-19 on social activities and practices.
5. Assess effect of COVID-19 on socio-economic activity and various coping mechanism adopted by the affected population.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the level of knowledge and awareness on COVID-19 pandemic among the students and staffs of IBB University? 
2. What is the degree of access to social services especially during COVID-19.
3. What is the level of access to basic health facilities among during COVID-19.
4. What are the effects of COVID-19 on social relationship or activities and practices among students and staff of IBBU
5. What is the effect of COVID-19 on socio-economic activity and various coping mechanism adopted by the affected population.

1.5       Significance of the Study

This study contributes to the large body of knowledge by providing evidence about Covid-19 pandemic and its social relationship. The study has further identified some existing gaps, which could be studied in the future. Similarly, the findings of this study are useful to the government, health workers, policy makers, NGOs, academics and other stakeholders in different organizations as an important reference material.

1.6       Scope of the Study

This study focused on Covid 19 pandemic and its social relationship in IBBU University Lapai. The scope will be limited to students and staff of the institution as its affect their social relationship during the pandemic lockdown and post lockdown activities.