The survey comes within the context of a rapidly rising infection rate among South Africans. This necessitated a declaration of a state of disaster and national lockdown, which was effective midnight on Thursday, 26 March. The decision was made to help control the spread of the virus.

How will the study be done?

The study will consist of two parts. One will use the '#datafree' Moya Messaging social media platform to gather data from approximately four million members, while the second part will include qualitative interviews with participants using the telephone, video platforms or through an internet-based questionnaire.

Due to the urgency of the situation, the survey will employ a Rapid Assessment and Response approach.

Quantitative Social Media study

The Moya Messaging community includes participants from all genders, age categories, employment status as well as income groups. The audience profile is 53% female, with an LSM between six and 10. Almost 92% of the audience earns below R 15 000 per month.

About 87% of the audience are credit active, 20% are public servants, while 99.5% are South African citizens. The Moya Messaging service has a significant number of community members who are older and who represent diverse demographic profiles.

"Social science has demonstrated its potential to help save lives, humanise epidemic responses and mitigate the disruptive socio-economic and psychosocial burdens associated with outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics," says Professor Priscilla Reddy, study leader and deputy executive director of the HSRC's Social Aspect of Public Health programme. 

"In light of the global outbreak of the Coronavirus, we need to understand more about this virus, how it affects people, how it is perceived and the impact it has on the lives of people," adds Reddy. 

"Understanding these elements of the virus will help us to develop accurate and effective messaging to change behaviours, attitudes and perceptions, which will help control the spread of the virus," Reddy says.

"We are appealing to all South Africans to participate in this survey. The research team is adopting the BiNu Moya Messaging platform as the launch vehicle for this survey," Reddy adds.

"Participation is, however, open to all South Africans who have access to the internet or smart device. It really is as easy as clicking on the link provided and completing the questions on a voluntary basis," says Reddy. "It does not cost anything and will not require data since it is on a data-free platform. The survey is completely anonymous and takes about 10 minutes to complete online."

"As a way of mitigating the spread of the infection, the HSRC supports the call from government to South Africans to '#StayAtHome' and to maintain social distancing," Reddy adds. 

"Information at this early stage is critical to ensuring South Africa moves through this moment and comes out better on the other end. We appeal to all South Africans to share the links widely and complete the survey as clearly as they can," she says.

"It will only take a few minutes, yet your contribution will be invaluable to shaping how South Africa, and perhaps other countries, respond to this virus and its effects on people," concludes Reddy.

Questions will include:
  • Have you heard of the coronavirus?
  • What does it mean to you?
  • How is the coronavirus spread?
  • Who do you think is most likely to get the coronavirus?
  • Do you have any experience with the coronavirus?
  • If so, how do you know feel about the person who was infected?
  • What are you doing to protect yourself from being infected with the coronavirus?
  • What worries you the most about the coronavirus?
  • If you were to be infected with the coronavirus, do you know what to do?
  • How are people with coronavirus or those thought to have coronavirus treated in your community?
  • Do you think that the public is being given all the information about the coronavirus?
  • In your view, do you think that the government is doing enough to combat the spread of the infection?
The full set of questions for the quantitative survey will be field-tested within a pilot process. These results will be used to adapt and modify the questions for better efficiency and effectiveness of the longer-term study.

The survey is expected to run for three to four weeks, thereafter the results will be made available to identified stakeholders, the media and to community members.

Individuals are encouraged to participate in the study here.

For more information, visit www.hsrc.ac.za. You can also follow the HSRC on Facebook or on Twitter.