IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATION GAPS AMONG NIGERIAN IMMIGRANTS IN CHINA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE PSYCHO-SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

China was the global epicenter of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Its multi-lingual predilection did not facilitate the propagation of COVID-19-related health information among immigrants in China because the language of awareness creation was the Mandarin language. The obvious communication gaps created may have exerted undue psycho-social effects on the immigrants. Therefore, the study seeks to evaluate the psycho-social impact of communication gaps on Nigerian immigrants in China during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fifty (50) respondents were interviewed through phone calls, responses were graded and analyzed using simple percentages. The psycho- social impacts were identified as fear, uncertainty, depression, loneliness, and social disruption. Forty percent (40%) of the respondents reported fear, loneliness (30%), social disruption (15%), uncertainty (10) and depression (5%). Most health information was disseminated in the Mandarin language, excluding most Nigerian immigrants from access to vital information on the disease pattern and preventive measures. The language of communication is key in the dissemination of health information; hence, an international language may have significantly narrowed the communication gap during the pandemic.