COVID-19 continues to exert immense pressure on the world’s emerging markets, creating economic concerns that rival the health concerns. With a third or fourth wave of the virus gripping many countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult for governments to get a handle on either of those challenges.

As a followup to GeoPoll’s 2020 reports and April 2021 report on the impacts of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa, GeoPoll conducted a survey in nine countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia to assess the ongoing effects of the pandemic on respondents’ finances, spending and health, their thoughts and concerns about the vaccine, and their hopes for the future.

The main topics covered include:

• Changes to consumer income and financial outlook
• Changes in consumer spending habits
• Perceptions about government response to the pandemic
• Concerns about and willingness to take the vaccine
• Adherence to public health measures and changes in emotional health

Findings from this study illustrate a world continuing to suffer the economic and societal impacts of COVID-19. Incomes continue to fall, particularly in emerging economies such as Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Brazil, while prices for food and other necessities increase. Many express concern both with paying their expenses and with the pandemic overall. Despite these hardships, several positive trends surfaced, including the likeliness to take the vaccine when it is available, emotional health improvements, and optimism for the future.

Click below to download GeoPoll’s full written report, or scroll down to view the survey data in the interactive dashboard.

Interactive Data Dashboard

Dive deeper into GeoPoll’s data on the ongoing economic and societal impacts of COVID-19 in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Egypt, Brazil, Colombia, and China using the interactive dashboard below. You can view all pieces of data from this study, filterable by country, age group, gender, and question.

The post GeoPoll Report: The Ongoing Impacts of COVID-19 Across Africa, Latin America and Asia appeared first on GeoPoll.

As part of its study in April 2021 on the ongoing economic, social, and health impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa, GeoPoll asked respondents in Côte D’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa about their likeliness to take the vaccine when it becomes available – and when they think that might be. We also asked if they have been provided enough trustworthy information about the vaccine and about any concerns they might have.

This article draws from that study, focusing on perceptions, expectations, and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. You can access the full interactive result dashboard and download the report for free here.

Trustworthy Vaccine Information

After living with the pandemic for more than a year, many questions and uncertainties remain. In this study, less than half the respondents (48%) believe they have been provided enough trustworthy information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Persistent rumors around the vaccine have clearly degraded peoples’ confidence in the information available to them and demonstrate the importance of stakeholders battling misinformation around vaccines.

Likeliness to Get the Vaccine

Respondents’ likeliness to get the vaccine mirrors their trust in the information available about the vaccine. Only 48% of respondents across countries said they would probably or definitely get the vaccine right away if it was available for free. That is down from 62% in our previous study in November 2020, further illustrating the impact of continued negative information about the vaccine.

Concerns About the Vaccine

Overall, the top reasons why respondents may not get the vaccine are uncertainty about its effectiveness and potential health risks. That does not hold true in each country, however, as shown in the chart below.

Expectations About Vaccine Availability

Looking ahead, the opportunity to interrupt virus transmissions and initiate social and economic recovery in sub-Saharan Africa largely hinges on the availability and distribution of vaccines. All of the sub-Saharan African countries included in this study have initiated limited vaccination programs, mainly procured through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, but at this point there are simply not enough doses available to approach herd immunity.

The delayed rollout of the vaccine so far in Africa has pushed back when respondents from all six countries in this study expect the vaccine will be available to the public.

In our study in November 2020, 31% believed a vaccine would be available in the first half of 2021. Only 10% believed it would be available in the second half of 2021 and 5% believed it wouldn’t be until 2022. In this study, the percentage that believe the vaccine will be available in the first half of 2021 dropped from 31% to 26%. The percentage that believes the vaccine will be available in the second half of 2021 jumped from 10% to 34%, and the percentage that predict it will not be available until 2022 or later jumped from 5% to 30%.

Follow GeoPoll for Continued COVID-19 Research

Throughout 2021, GeoPoll will continue to monitor the long-term implications of COVID-19 and sentiments towards a vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa and around the globe. Sign up to be updated when GeoPoll releases new COVID-19 research, and please contact us if you require additional information regarding this study or would like to conduct your own research using GeoPoll’s mobile- based data collection capabilities and global reach.

The post Report: COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions and Hesitancy in Sub-Saharan Africa appeared first on GeoPoll.

This article draws from GeoPoll’s May 2021 report on the ongoing economic, social, and health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as vaccine perceptions from a survey we conducted in Côte D’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa in March/April 2021. You can access the interactive result dashboard and download the report for free here.

In this article, we will focus on the economic impact of the pandemic, particularly how personal and household incomes have changed, how consumer spending habits have shifted, and the financial outlook for the next couple of months.

Incomes Have Decreased

The coronavirus pandemic has seen many industries suffer the brunt of a forced change in lifestyle as governments imposed measures to cut the spread of the disease. Many businesses closed down or reduced capacities, leading to income and job losses for many people.

The World Bank, in its biannual economic analysis for the region in March 2021, projects sub-Saharan Africa will see moderate economic growth this year, rebounding from the COVID-19 induced recession of 2020. However, the resurgence of the pandemic is dampening those projections, and many are at risk of suffering further setbacks to their personal finances and living standards.

In GeoPoll’s previous study on the ongoing impact of COVID-19 from November 2020, 79% of respondents stated their income had decreased since June 2020. Our current study shows that downward trend continuing with 64% saying their income has decreased since January 2021. The largest segment (42%) say it has decreased a lot.

In Kenya, the recent resurgence of the pandemic and renewal of government restrictions around the time the survey ran appears to have had a severe economic impact, with 79% of respondents in the country reporting a decrease in income. Young people in Kenya appear to be particularly affected, with 66% of respondents ages 15-25 saying their income has decreased a lot. Only 10% of respondents across countries said their income has increased even a bit.

Consumer Spending Changed

Spending on food and other necessities has fluctuated significantly since the start of 2021. When asked to compare their current spending on food and other necessities to three months ago, most respondents choose the extremes, saying it either decreased a lot (27%) or increased a lot (24%). Only 12% of respondents say it has not changed.

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 18.17% in March 2021, hitting a 4-year peak due to the impacts of COVID-19. Food inflation in particular rose to 22.95%, putting even more pressure on households faced with rising unemployment and shrinking incomes. In our study, 68% of respondents in Nigeria stated that their spending on food and other necessities has increased since January 2021. Almost half (47%) say it has increased a lot.

The overwhelming reason why respondents across countries say their spending on food and other necessities has decreased is that they have less money (76%). For respondents that stated their spending on food and other necessities has increased, 85% claim the increase is because prices have gone up. In Nigeria, that number rises to 94%.

With 64% of respondents saying their income has decreased since January 2021, it is understandable that 60% of respondents say their spending on non-essential items has also decreased. In Kenya, where 79% of respondents experienced a decrease in income, 51% say their spending on non-essential items has decreased a lot. It is likely a matter of prioritizing essentials such as food over non-essentials such as fashion items.

Most respondents across countries (65%) say the reason why their spending on non-essential items has decreased is because they have less money. Almost 18% say it is because they are spending more elsewhere – likely on food and essentials. Of the relatively few respondents that say their spending on non-essential items has increased, 77% attribute the increase to a rise in prices. In Nigeria, 90% attribute it to a rise in prices.

How the Near Future Looks Financially

The prevalent drop or stagnation in income in sub-Saharan Africa has understandably impacted consumer finances and spending.

Across countries, most respondents (53%) say they are extremely concerned about paying expenses in the next three months.

The level of concern is particularly high in Mozambique with 70% of respondents saying they are extremely concerned, in line with World Bank’s assessment that a sizeable number of Mozambicans could fall back into poverty as a result of the pandemic. Conversely, in the Democratic Republic of Congo almost half (46%) of respondents say they are not concerned at all about paying expenses. That is 12% higher than Côte D’Ivoire and more than double the other four countries included in this study.

Looking ahead, respondents have polarized views about their financial future. When asked to rate their optimism about their financial situation improvising in the next three months, 37% are not at all optimistic and 35% are extremely optimistic. Respondents ages 26-35 are slightly more optimistic than the other age groups with 38% saying they are extremely optimistic. Women are more likely to be extremely optimistic than men (38% to 32%).

Nigeria stands out as having the brightest outlook for the future. Despite the tumultuous first few months of 2021, 46% of respondents in Nigeria are extremely optimistic about their financial situation improving in the next 3 months. Respondents in the Democratic Republic of Congo are the most skeptical, with only 27% extremely optimistic and 54% not at all optimistic. According to the United Nations, one-third of the DRC’s population is currently facing acute hunger due to conflict and the economic impacts of COVID-19, providing possible context for that skepticism.

About This Survey

This study was implemented by GeoPoll using our own mobile research platform and respondent database via two-way SMS between March 24th and April 12th, 2021 with some countries completing data collection earlier than others.

The study questionnaire was designed by GeoPoll researchers and translated where needed and was run in six countries: Côte D’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa. The total sample size was 400 per country and 2,400 total, which provides a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence interval. GeoPoll used a simple random sampling technique from GeoPoll’s respondent database of mobile subscribers in each country surveyed. The sample was nationally representative by age, gender and location (ADM1).

For more information on the sample and methodology, to request copies of the questionnaire and response data, or to speak to a GeoPoll representative on conducting surveys in Africa, Asia and Latin America, please contact us.

The post Report: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Africa appeared first on GeoPoll.

The economic slowdown caused by the pandemic has disproportionally impacted the most marginalized countries and individuals of the world. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the economic losses are expected to be much higher in emerging markets than in advanced economies. On an individual level, the virus has deepened inequality across sub-Saharan Africa with young and low-skilled workers, women and refugees bearing the brunt of the downturn.

Looking ahead, the opportunity to interrupt virus transmissions and initiate social and economic recovery in sub-Saharan Africa largely hinges on the availability and distribution of vaccines. The pandemic, however, has also exposed global inequalities in health care. At this point there are simply not enough doses available to inoculate entire African nations in the near term. The spread of false information and conspiracy theories has also led to an increase in vaccine hesitancy, further complicating vaccination efforts.

After living with the pandemic for more than a year, many questions and uncertainties remain. As a follow up to GeoPoll’s 2020 reports on the impact of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa, GeoPoll conducted a survey to assess the ongoing effects of the pandemic on respondents’ finances, spending, and health, their thoughts and concerns about the vaccine, and their hopes for the future. This report details the results from that survey.

The study was conducted in March 2021 in Côte D’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa. The main topics covered include:

• Changes to consumer finances, spending, and mobile money usage
• Perceptions about the government response to the virus and the trustworthiness of information available
• Anticipation about the availability and willingness to take the vaccine
• Adherence to public health measures and changes to mental and physical health

Findings from this study illustrate the ongoing disruption of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. Incomes and spending continue to fall since our study in November 2020, while prices have risen. The percentage likely to take the vaccine if it was available has decreased since November, as has optimism about when that might be. Despite these hardships, several positive trends surfaced in this study, including improvements in emotional and physical health.

Click below to download GeoPoll’s full written report, or view data in the interactive dashboard.

Data: Financial Impact, Government Response, Likelihood to Take the Vaccine, and more.

Sign Up for Updates

The post GeoPoll’s COVID-19 Tracker Report: The Ongoing Impacts of COVID-19 in 6 African Nations appeared first on GeoPoll.

The economic impact of COVID-19 is being felt globally, but economies classified as ‘emerging’ and ‘developing’ by the World Bank, which includes those in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, are likely to be hardest hit. The combination of largely informal workforces, a decrease in export demand, and existing economic instability is expected to result in an outsize impact in countries such as South Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia.

In sub-Saharan Africa, it has been predicted that coronavirus will result in the first recession in that region for 25 years. Most countries in the region have not yet experienced their peak in COVID-19 cases, and it’s possible that coronavirus-related measures and the related economic impacts will continue for some time.

Coronavirus’ Effect on the Economy, Employment and Income in sub-Saharan Africa

Despite these predictions, we don’t know yet how the economic impact of COVID-19 varies based on country, job type, income level, and other factors. In order to provide a more complete picture of the economic impact of COVID-19, GeoPoll has conducted a study in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Kenya, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Mozambique, and South Africa. The main areas of GeoPoll’s study are:

• Ability to work and income change since the outset of COVID-19
• Concern over expenses and the ability to pay for basic needs
• Usage of loans, savings, and income to pay for expenses
• The impact of COVID-19 on loans and mobile money services
• Receipt of aid and opinions of government priorities

The study was conducted by SMS from June – July 2020, with 500 respondents per country or 2,500 total, and a nationally representative sample by age, gender, and location. To download the full PDF report, a 16-page report including breakdowns and analysis by country, job type, income level, and more, please click below. You can also view the results in our interactive dashboard.

Data: COVID-19’s Economic Impact

Subscribe to Updates

To be notified when GeoPoll releases new studies on COVID-19 around the globe, please enter your email below.

The post Report: Economic Impact of COVID-19 Across sub-Saharan Africa appeared first on GeoPoll.

Coronavirus Testing and Healthcare Behavior Changing

Although there has been a slow ramp-up of testing in many African nations, with tests per thousand people varying widely by country, GeoPoll’s data finds that reported testing has increased; 16% of respondents said they knew people who had tested negative for coronavirus, up from 12% in our first round of data collection, and 11% knew someone who had tested positive, up from 8%. There is also a slight increase in perceived risk of exposure; 66% say they believe they are at risk of being exposed to coronavirus, up from 63% in the earlier round of data collection.

In our last report, we noted that the percent who said they would go to a hospital if they exhibited mild symptoms of COVID-19 was quite high, at 58%, compared to just 13% who stated that they would stay home with mild symptoms. This subsequent round of data collection shows shifting attitudes towards healthcare-seeking behavior, with 51% stating they would go to the hospital, 18% reporting they would stay home, and 27% stating they would go to a doctor. This may indicate increased communication and awareness around treatment for mild cases of coronavirus in the countries studied.

Respondents report almost identical levels of preventative measures being taken when compared to the previous round of data collection, suggesting that respondents have not changed their habits much over the past few weeks, and a large portion are still avoiding public places and increasing hygiene. A slightly higher percentage than previously reported say they are now fully self-quarantining; 73% are self-quarantining now compared to 70% in the previous round of data collection.

We also found that the actions being taken by businesses to protect their consumers have shifted, with 34% now reporting that staff are in protective gear compared to 25% in the previous round, and 28% stating that store traffic is being limited, versus 25% in the previous round. A slightly lower percent, 53%, report that sanitizer is being offered in stores than the previous 57%, although this could be due to sanitizer shortages.

Shifts in Food Purchasing Behavior in sub-Saharan Africa

There is a strong likelihood that populations in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions will experience heightened levels of food insecurity due to COVID-19 and related restrictions on movement and market operability. Our last study showed high levels of concern over food availability, and 81% of respondents remain concerned over having enough food to eat. Additionally, we observe some shifts in food buying habits even within the past few weeks. While respondents indicate that food markets are gradually reopening in some areas, with 22% stating that most markets are open compared to 18% in the previous survey round, a slightly larger percent of respondents now report shopping for food more often than usual.

There are also shifts in the amount of food being purchased; while the previous round of data collection found that 22% said they were buying smaller packsizes than usual and 43% were buying larger packsizes than usual, the latest data shows that 28% are buying smaller packsizes and 39% bigger packsizes. This could indicate that towards the beginning of the crisis people were buying larger amounts of food, or could suggest that people are unable to afford large quantities of food, so are now purchasing smaller packsizes. Similar trends are seen in the brands being purchased; 79% of those who stated that they had worried about food availability report switching to a cheaper brand of food, versus 72% who said the same in the previous round.

Media Consumption During Coronavirus

We have looked at how information sources and media consumption are changing due to coronavirus in several of our reports; In Kenya, we found average television viewership had increased during COVID-19, and in Uganda, that news viewership specifically had risen. Our last round of data collection in 12 African nations also found that 66% reported an increase in media consumption. This round of data collection had similar results, with 65% reporting an increase in media consumption, although a slightly higher percent – 17% versus 15% from the first round – said they were consuming less media. Television and social media remain the top information sources overall, but on social media we find that more people are now turning to health organizations to get their news, with 25% stating they are getting information on social media from health organizations, compared to 22% in the previous round.

Results Dashboard

Future Studies on Coronavirus in Africa

GeoPoll will be running additional studies on how COVID-19 is impacting live throughout sub-Saharan Africa and other regions. To sign up for updates when we release a new report, please fill out the form below. To request pricing for custom studies related to coronavirus around the globe, please contact us.

The post Coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa: Data shows changing food habits, increased testing appeared first on GeoPoll.

Despite mobile-based methodologies being the safest and most effective way to gather data during a crisis such as COVID-19, there are still unknown factors when using mobile to collect data. Who can be reached, what modes are best suited to each project, and how questionnaires should be designed are just a few of the questions that come up when organizations are looking to transition projects from face-to-face methodologies to mobile surveys.

While formal research on the usage of mobile surveys is sparse, below is an overview of the research available and anecdotal evidence from GeoPoll’s 8+ years conducting remote survey work in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

What can mobile phone surveys be used for?

Mobile surveys have been used as a tool by reputable organizations including the World Bank, The United Nations World Food Programme, Unilever, GIZ, and Insight2Impact for several years. There is some debate over if mobile surveys can yet be used to fully replace face-to-face studies, however, there is agreement that mobile surveys excel at collecting rapid data during crises. USAID, FHI360, Keystone Accountability, and others have utilized remote methodologies to identify vulnerable populations and shifting trends during crises including the 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola outbreak. Organizations such as the World Food Programme have spearheaded the usage of mobile surveys in multiple regions to gather food security data, finding that mobile was able to correctly identify trends and seasonal shifts in food security.

Additionally, there is evidence that mobile is better at gathering data on sensitive questions than in-person modes. Research GeoPoll conducted with Kantar TNS found that SMS respondents were more likely to indicate that they felt unsafe in their homes and that they have gone without food than respondents from the compared face-to-face survey.

Who can be reached with remote mobile surveys?

The mobile methodologies that are feasible during COVID-19 (CATI, SMS, IVR, and mobile web or mobile application) require respondents to have access to a mobile phone through which they will answer survey questions. While some studies, such as the World Bank’s Listening To Africa project, provide mobile phones to respondents through initial face-to-face outreach, at present organizations can only reach respondents through mobile phones they already have. This reduces the sampling frame of any given study to those with access to mobile devices, but mobile penetration in Africa and other regions is increasing each year; a 2017 study by Pew research found over 80% of the population in 6 African countries had access to some sort of mobile phone.

Studies have found that the mobile population overrepresents those who are more educated, male, and younger age groups in many countries, but it’s still possible to target those who are older or less educated – it simply may require a larger sample base to draw from to find these respondents. GeoPoll has often targeted very specific groups, from farmers of certain crops to mothers of young children, and is able to do so through careful sampling methods and screening questions. We can also create samples which are nationally representative by key demographics through a stratified random sampling approach and use of quotas to reach the desired sample size within each demographic group.

Finally, GeoPoll uses mobile-friendly Living Standard Measures questions to calculate the LSM or SEC group of respondents. GeoPoll’s recent studies on coronavirus and other studies have included respondents from the lowest SEC groups, who typically do not have running water or electricity in their homes. Certain modes may be better for targeting certain groups; CATI has been found to be better at reaching older age groups, while IVR may reach those less educated.

Who you will target also depends on the sample source; GeoPoll has access to mobile subscriber databases in over 60 countries which we can draw from, or we can gather sample through an enhanced Random Digit Dialing (RDD) process, or recruitment through online, radio, or TV advertisements. GeoPoll can also send surveys to provided lists of contacts for those looking to reach a pre-recruited group.

What mobile survey mode should I use?

Current available modes from GeoPoll include:

• SMS: Surveys conducted via a 2-way SMS chat
• CATI: Voice calls placed by trained interviewers working remotely during COVID-19
• IVR: Automated voice calls with a recording
• Mobile web: A mobile web link that is sent via SMS or another mode and opens a basic web browser
• Mobile application: Mobile applications which administer surveys with those with access to smartphones.

The ideal mode for conducting research will depend on a variety of factors, including questionnaire length, budget, and target respondent groups. It has been found that CATI and IVR are generally more expensive than SMS, however, cost varies widely by mode and is also dependent on countries studied, screening criteria, number of questions, and other factors. In order to get a true estimate of cost, you should contact a research firm such as GeoPoll who can provide price quotes by mode for your specific project. 

How should I design questionnaires for mobile?

As many remote mobile methodologies are self-administered (with the exception of CATI) and have other limitations such as character limits, questionnaires for mobile must keep the mode of survey research in mind. For example, while one study found that individual question length didn’t affect response rates, studies GeoPoll and others have done have found that longer SMS studies have lower completion rates. Additional studies have demonstrated that certain question types may work better in certain modes; for example, a GeoPoll study found that SMS select-all-that-apply questions yield fewer answers than forced-choice questions.

What other factors should I consider when conducting mobile research?

Other factors to consider when embarking on a mobile research project include:

• Incentives: Findings are mixed on the use of incentives; A study in Ghana and Tanzania found small incentives increased completion rates, but that higher incentives had similar effects to lower amounts, and other studies have found lesser effects. Some surveys may also cost respondents airtime; GeoPoll and other services often use zero-rated shortcodes to send messages so that they can be received and replied to even when respondents do not have airtime.
• Language: Many countries speak multiple languages, and surveys should be offered in more than one language – for SMS, services such as GeoPoll offer multi-language surveys, and for CATI, research providers should have multiple interviewers with different language skills. GeoPoll’s call centers are staffed with interviewers who often speak up to 6 languages, depending on the country.
• Local Context: It has also been found that the local context is important. For example, dialects and wording intent can vary throughout regions, which is why GeoPoll always uses local interviewers to conduct voice calls and makes multiple checks on other survey types before sending them out. GeoPoll has also found that in countries such as Nigeria, female interviewers have higher response rates.
• Speed: The speed at which you are looking to collect data will have an impact on the mode you choose. SMS and mobile web surveys can be sent to tens of thousands of respondents at once, while the speed at which CATI interviews are conducted depends on the number of interviewers hired. GeoPoll has also found that IVR response rates can be very low, which can slow down data collection.
• Cost: Your budget for conducting research will be a factor in determining mode, sample size, and other aspects of data collection. While there is a tendency to think lower-cost equals lower-quality, this is not always the case; For many projects, SMS and mobile web surveys are a good option for gathering quality data at lower costs than CATI.
• Data Output: Data can often be delivered in multiple formats – some research organizations will provide raw data in Excel or SPSS, and others may do data analysis for you. GeoPoll has a full-service research team who do data cleanup and analysis and can provide raw data, create reports, and build custom dashboards.

Conducting Mobile Surveys during COVID-19

Although there is still much research to be done on mobile surveys, coronavirus provides researchers an opportunity to test new methodologies that will be referred back to for many years to come. While mobile may not yet reach every person on the globe, it will within the coming decades, and so we must continue to test different methodologies in order to better understand the nuances of mobile data collection.

When conducting mobile research, we recommend using a firm like GeoPoll that has years of experience in the nuances of remote mobile methodologies. To request a quote from GeoPoll for mobile-based research, please contact us here.

The post Frequently Asked Questions around Mobile Phone Surveys appeared first on GeoPoll.

While some governments in Africa have been proactive about lockdowns in order to prevent the virus from quickly spreading through densely populated areas, coronavirus is already present in many African nations, and there is a fear that the worst is yet to come. As seen following the West African Ebola crisis, a health crisis such as coronavirus hitting vulnerable populations can result in devastating effects for both development and consumerism.

Data on Coronavirus in Africa

Keeping these factors in mind, GeoPoll conducted a remote study in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa on the effects coronavirus is already having on people throughout the region. The impact of the virus will have broad-reaching implications across all sectors, and while we could not cover every relevant topic in this study, we sought to use our experience conducting research for both international development groups and the consumer sector to include a wide range of topics. Respondents for this study were recruited from the GeoPoll database and have been placed into an ongoing panel, and are unique from those taking other coronavirus-related studies.

Areas that are covered in this study include:

• Biggest concerns and perceptions of risk surrounding coronavirus
• Preventative measures such as social distancing and handwashing practices
• Changes in food market operability and food security
• Changes in consumer habits, including purchasing of food and nonessential items
• Levels of trust in governments and the commercial sector
• Information sources on COVID-19 and changes in media consumption

We plan to run this study on an ongoing basis to see how perceptions and reactions to coronavirus, as well as consumer behavior and food availability, change over time. GeoPoll’s full insights report on this data is available for download here and in French here. You can also view the results in the interactive dashboard below, which will be updated with new data over time. To sign up for updates on new data related to coronavirus, please click here.

Interactive Dashboard

Sign up for Updates on Coronavirus Reports

To be updated on future resources and reports GeoPoll releases related to Coronavirus, please fill out the form below.

The post Report: The Impact of COVID-19 Across Africa appeared first on GeoPoll.

A more apt comparison for the humanitarian community is the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The Ebola virus has a high death rate, and the outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea resulted in lockdowns similar to those now being seen on a much larger scale. GeoPoll’s experience conducting research during Ebola outbreaks aligns with the shifts from face-to-face to remote research we are seeing now, and the humanitarian community is also looking to its experience with Ebola to guide its response to COVID-19 around the globe.

Prepare for Long-Term Impacts to Food Security and Economies

One of the main areas of comparison between Ebola and coronavirus is the long-term impacts that come with a disease outbreak. During and after the Ebola outbreak, food security and economic impacts were a major concern. GeoPoll’s study with USAID and FHI360 on long-term economic impacts of Ebola found that from June 2014 to June 2015 32% in Liberia and 45% of respondents in Sierra Leone reported that income had dropped in the past year. We also used our remote methodology to study food insecurity and market operability, finding that those in the Ebola epicenters had higher food insecurity than surrounding areas, and that as the disease continued to spread markets were operating at reduced capacity.

As coronavirus spreads to developing regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, there are already concerns around the food availability, unrest, and economic impacts that will follow. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that a global food crisis is possible unless measures are taken to protect the food supply chain, and it is likely that food prices will also rise. Additionally, lockdowns and social distancing measures are likely to have an outsized impact on countries that rely on informal markets and exports of commodities including oil. In countries that already suffer from food insecurity and unstable economies, coronavirus could have a devastating effect on food security and wellbeing. Humanitarian organizations must act rapidly to prevent widespread food insecurity and other hardships, but they are also dealing with the need to quickly adapt systems to a new environment.

Adapt Aid and Research Systems

To prevent worst-case scenarios from occurring, the humanitarian community must work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from overwhelming fragile healthcare systems and economies. However, as we saw the Ebola outbreak, there will be challenges surrounding aid delivery and monitoring of situations on-the-ground. Due to the travel restrictions that have been implemented to stop coronavirus’ spread, aid organizations are already experiencing challenges delivering required goods. Gavi, the vaccine alliance, has stated that 21 countries are experiencing vaccine shortages due to travel disruptions, and farmers in Kenya have been left without supplies to fight the worst locust infestation seen in years.

Additionally, aid organizations and their workers are grappling with the decision to stay and help those who are in need or protect themselves from the virus. The World Health Organization found that during the West African Ebola outbreak, healthcare workers were over 20 times more likely to become infected than the general population, a statistic that we may see repeated with the COVID-19 outbreak.

These factors present a challenge for humanitarian organizations that are looking to monitor indicators such as food security and then deliver the necessary aid to vulnerable populations. During the Ebola outbreak, GeoPoll watched as development organizations shifted their data collection from in-person to remote methodologies. With partners including USAID, Keystone Accountability, and FEWS Net, we completed over 200,000 surveys of those living in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea that enabled development organizations to better respond to the disease outbreak.

While it is impossible to conduct business as usual during a global pandemic, the Ebola response taught us that by quickly adapting, it is possible to gather the vital information needed to assist the global response. The effects of coronavirus will be felt for years to come, but by looking to lessons learned during previous disease outbreaks and quickly scaling to meet anticipated needs, organizations like ours can help those most in need.

To learn about GeoPoll’s efforts to aid the international response to coronavirus and view our free reports on the topic, visit our coronavirus resources page.

The post How to Apply Lessons Learned from the Ebola Response to COVID-19 appeared first on GeoPoll.

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rises in Africa, some countries are taking steps to prevent infection by

The World Health Organization has stated that fake coronavirus information is spreading quickly. The dissemination of accurate information can help protect vulnerable populations. One-way messaging through SMS text messages, mobile web links, or automated voice calls is an effective way to circulate information remotely during a health crisis. Learn more about how mobile can be used for information dissemination below, and to be notified of GeoPoll’s ongoing coronavirus-related work please click here.

Access to Information about Coronavirus in Africa 

A recent GeoPoll study in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, found that awareness of the coronavirus outbreak is high. Given the media coverage, it is unsurprising that 94% of all respondents are aware of the outbreak. Additionally, 73% believe they know how to prevent coronavirus, with increased hygiene as the top preventative measure.

Despite awareness, there is still a pernicious spread of misinformation. Authorities in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya are concerned with misleading messaging about false cures, the number of cases, and more. For 47% of those polled, GeoPoll found that social media is the most common source of information, followed by TV and radio. However, 75% said they had seen information on WhatsApp about the coronavirus and over half (66%) thought it only ‘somewhat truthful.’ 

In a disaster situation, one-way messaging is an effective method for reputable organizations to disseminate information. Facebook has already begun to send one-way messaging through WhatsApp, and other mobile-based modes can reach those without access to the internet or smartphones. SMS text messaging, for example, can reach a large number of people quickly and provide critical health information from a trusted source. 

Disaster Communication: Best Practices for One-Way Messaging  

SMS text messages and other mobile-based communications can inform people of safety procedures or key health information during a disaster. Below, we focus on some of the best practices for using mobile methods to remotely send messages that can be applied in response to the current pandemic. 

Clearly identify the sender 

Identify a reputable organization as the sender of the message. This will encourage recipients to respect and trust the message contents. 

Understand the audience 

Know who is intended to receive the message and the ideal method for communication. Determine the correct language or dialect for the message. Be mindful of the literacy rates and use simple straightforward language with short sentences. If the literacy rate is very low, consider Interactive Voice Response (IVR) calls. 

Use IVR voice calls for low-literacy areas 

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is a computer-based technology that is a fast way to send out messages in an area of low literacy. While IVR is standard for customer service menus and market research, it can also be used as a one-way system to disseminate information. Consider the same best practices as SMS messaging: understand the audience, keep the message short, and provide recipients with a method to unsubscribe.   

Do not send redundant messages

Aid organizations are most effective when they collaborate to present a unified message. Avoid overwhelming recipients with multiple SMS texts or voice messages containing the same information. Ensure that the content of the messages themselves are not redundant. Send one message about each relevant piece of information. 

Allow recipients to unsubscribe 

Observe best practices for mass-communication even in a time of disaster. It is possible that not everyone needs to or wishes to receive the alerts. Always provide an opt-out option in communications. 

GeoPoll can send communications through one-way messaging through multiple mobile modes to our database of respondents or a provided list of mobile numbers. GeoPoll will continue to release studies surrounding the coronavirus in the next few weeks. Stay updated on our coronavirus work here. 

The post Information Dissemination in a Health Crisis appeared first on GeoPoll.