A Comparative Health Misinformation Need Assessment Analysis in Niger State, Nigeria

Background : Health misinformation poses critical threat to public health systems globally, with particularly devastating impacts in low- and middle-income countries where health literacy levels are limited, and communication infrastructure is inadequate. In Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, the spread of false health information has undermined public health initiatives, eroded trust in health institutions, and contributed to preventable morbidity and mortality. Despite documented evidence of widespread misinformation, systematic understanding of the specific needs, gaps, and community perspectives regarding misinformation management remains limited. This study aimed to identify critical needs and gaps in managing health misinformation within Niger State, Nigeria, to inform the development of evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and sustainable interventions. Methodology: Mixed-methods triangulation design combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. A cross-sectional survey of 300 respondents from four local government areas was conducted using stratified random sampling. Data were collected in August 2023 (1 ^st to 31 ^st ) through structured questionnaires administered face-to-face and recorded digitally. Participants included community leaders, health workers, media practitioners, traders, and community members. Qualitative data consisted of eight focus group discussions, transcribed, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic framework. Quantitative analysis used SPSS, while qualitative coding was conducted on Dedoose. Ethical approval was granted by the Niger State Research Ethics Committee. Results: Misinformation was highly prevalent, with community gatherings (63.0%) and social media (31.7%) as primary information sources. Although 53.6% reported confidence in identifying accurate information, qualitative data showed widespread difficulty distinguishing truth from falsehood. Only 23.3% knew of existing misinformation strategies, while 70.3% cited poor awareness education. Vaccine hesitancy was widespread, shaped by spiritual illness attributions and distrust of government health initiatives. Religious and traditional leaders held strong authority over communities, whereas health workers faced credibility challenges. Current interventions like, dialogues and disease surveillance rumour logs, had limited reach due to funding, poor attendance, and implementation gaps. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that misinformation operates within socio-ecological systems defined by interpersonal networks, epistemic pluralism, structural vulnerabilities, and trust asymmetries. Effective responses must strengthen stakeholder partnerships, embed communication in traditional channels, enhance surveillance, build critical health literacy, address infrastructure deficits, and engage respectfully with existing belief systems to build trust.