A cross-country network analysis of disease infodemics: Looking through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Infodemics surrounding pandemics and epidemics have persisted for centuries and continue to impede efforts to promote high vaccination coverage. We explored the complex interplay between COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and COVID-19-related infodemics across Germany, Ghana, India, and New Zealand using the novel network analysis. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey and recruited 1822 participants from the general populations of India (n = 411), New Zealand (n = 413), Ghana (n = 523), and Germany (n = 413) to complete COVID-19 infodemic measures and demographics questions. Predictors of less favourable COVID-19 vaccination attitudes included the apocalypse-related infodemic in India, compared to all countries, as well as the not harmful belief of COVID-19 in New Zealand, compared to India and Germany, and in Ghana compared to India. COVID-19 origin-related infodemics were found to positively impact COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in Ghana and New Zealand only. The most influential infodemics in each of the countries studied-Ghana, New Zealand, Germany, and India-were the beliefs in bioweapons, 5G technology, apocalypse, and bat consumption, respectively. Across all countries, there were consistent strong positive connections between the infodemics. Our results suggest that country-specific infodemics significantly impact COVID-19 vaccination attitudes, with variations observed between nations. While the infodemics can reinforce each other and complicate public health efforts during pandemics, understanding the interactions between the central infodemic in each country and others can aid in developing more effective strategies to counter their influences. This highlights the importance of targeted public health interventions that address the unique dynamics of local infodemics during pandemics, epidemics, and Pathogen X outbreaks.