Nigeria and Italy Divergences in Coronavirus Experience: Impact of Population Density
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Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Abstract
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Background. $e reports and information on coronavirus are not conspicuously emphasising the possible impact of population
density on the explanation of difference in rapid spread and fatality due to the disease and not much has been done on bicountry
comparisons. Objective. $e study examined the impact of population density on the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in two
sociodemographic divergent countries. Methods. $e study conducted a scoping review of published and unpublished articles
including blogs on incidences and fatalities of COVID-19. $e analysis followed qualitative description and quantitative presentation
of the findings using only frequency distribution, percentages, and graphs. Results. $e two countries shared similar
experience of “importation” of COVID-19, but while different states ordered partial lockdown in Nigeria, it was an immediate
total lockdown in Italy. $e physician/patient ratio is high in Italy (1 : 328) but low in Nigeria (1 : 2500), while population density is
221 in Nigeria and 206 in Italy. Daily change in incidence rate reduced to below 20% after 51 and 30 days of COVID-19 first
incidence in Italy and Nigeria, respectively. Fatality rate has plummeted to below 10% after the 66th day in Italy but has not been
stabilised in Nigeria. Conclusion. $e authors upheld both governments’ recommending measures that tilted towards personal
hand-hygienic practices and social distancing. Authors suggested that if Italy with its high physician/patient ratio and lower
population density compared to Nigeria could suffer high fatality from COVID-19 pandemic under four weeks, then Nigeria with
its low physician/patient ratio and higher population density should prepare to face harder time if the pandemic persists.
Keywords
H Social Sciences (General)