Social Representation of "Fear" Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic among Populations in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

<jats:p>This paper uses a qualitative approach to analyze the 'fear' of the COVID-19 pandemic in different socio- cultural contexts within communities in Abidjan. Fear-related behavior is a crucial challenge for public policy. Using qualitative methods such as participant observation, interviews with local actors on fear in urban and rural areas. It shows that fear is based on mass media propaganda about the seriousness of the disease and its disruptive effects on the social order that the ideologies of "fear" oscillate between mistrust and resilience of populations leading to a recomposition of social relations. Ultimately, the management of the fear of covid-19 is a perception of a double perversity.</jats:p>