FEAR OF CONTRACTING COVID-19: INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION SOURCES AND MESSAGE CONTENT ON FEAR- AROUSAL AMONG BODA BODA RIDERS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

This study examined the influence of information sources and message content on COVID-19 in fear-arousal among boda boda riders in Nairobi County, Kenya. Little if any research has explored the influence of information sources and message content on fear arousal among boda boda riders, hence a gap that needed to be filled. The study was guided by the agenda-setting and framing theories. Case study research design was utilized. Convenience sampling was used to identify the study respondents. Telephone interviews were used to collect data. Qualitative data obtained through interviews was manually transcribed, coded and analyzed for themes. Findings revealed that television and radio were the main sources of information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Messages from information sources contained frightening phrases such as, “Coronavirus kills,” “COVID19 is a deadly disease,” “Coronavirus is a dangerous disease,” and “The virus is highly contagious.” Information sources and message content on COVID-19, therefore, aroused high levels of fear among boda boda riders. The study recommended that journalists should exercise caution and discretion, when covering news stories on infectious disease outbreaks. Moreover, news on contagions should be reported ethically and objectively. This will prevent the arousal of too much fear, which may result to mental breakdown among the receivers of the messages.