credibility as a resilience response. Another study, carried out in Nigeria, investigated the effects of public relations messaging used by companies that sell sanitizers. The study sought to account for the varying psychological needs that may influence the uptake of a message, such as seeking information or connection to a group based on similar interests, affect, or the need for an avenue to release pent-up emotions (Dyikuk and Dapiya 2020). 3. PERSPECTIVES ON INFORMATION DISORDER Misinformation, disinformation and, to a lesser extent, malinformation have been identified as the key components of information disorder (Wardle and Derakhshan 2017). There is general consensus that the term “misinformation” is commonly used to refer to information that is created or spread without necessarily being intended to mislead (Cunliffe-Jones 2021). Disinformation, on the other hand, commonly refers to false or misleading information that has been deliberately created or spread with the intention to mislead. Malinformation, which is not as prevalent as the preceding two, has been defined as information that is based on reality but is deliberately used to inflict harm on an organization, person, or country (Wardle and Derakhshan 2017). General studies on the topic adopt “misinformation” as an umbrella term for falsehoods circulating in the public sphere. The distinction between mis-, dis-, and mal information seems to be particularly important for researchers focusing on matters incidental to the regulation of information where authorities take intent into account (Cunliffe-Jones 2021). There are an array of factors that have been identified to have engendered the current level of information disorder in sub-Saharan Africa, the most popular being low media literacy, poor access to credible information, poor socioeconomic conditions, and low trust in governments (Okereke et al. 2021; Ufearoh 2021). Similarly, it is believed that information disorder as it is known today is a reflection of the continent’s political systems, which tend to suppress freedom of expression, and a result of divisive cultural systems and religious beliefs (Cheruiyot and Ferrer-Conill 2018). Another widely used term in sub-Saharan Africa is “fake news.” This particular term has found favor among politicians, headline writers, and the public I N FO R M ATI O N D I SO R D ER IN THE GLOBA L SOUTH and has been used to dismiss information as being biased or untrue without any regard to the accuracy of the information (Habgood-Coote 2018). If this term is to be taken literally, it would only apply to falsified information produced in a news format with the aim of deceiving the audience about its origins or accuracy (Habgood-Coote 2018). As such, it is also prudent to note that “fake news,” while contributing to information disorder, is not at the core of the disinformation discussion. Instead, it can be thought of as a by-product of either mis- or disinformation. In the context of Covid-19, the world has been said to be at war on two fronts. The world is battling, on the one hand, the spread of the novel coronavirus, and on the other hand, the “infodemic,” which refers to the spread of misinformation related to the virus (Offer-Westort, Rosenzweig, and Athey 2021; WHO n.d.). Such misinformation spans across a number of areas of interest, including rumors about the origin of the virus, government activities, scams that ostensibly offer opportunities for aid, and hoax cures. In some instances, people remain in disbelief and deny the existence of the virus in its entirety (Offer-Westort, Rosenzweig, and Athey 2021). The WHO (n.d.) has warned that the infodemic has tangible implications for collective efforts to tackle the crisis. The infodemic has been attributed to an excess of information, some accurate and some not, which makes it difficult for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it (WHO 2020). Much like the actual virus, mis- and disinformation around Covid-19 are borderless and are spread following the trajectory of other types of online information. False information tends to spread faster and farther than true information, thereby putting more lives at risk (Vosoughi, Roy, and Aral 2018). Arguably, the biggest challenge that the infodemic presents is the fact that false information and fake news overshadow official public health advice regarding Covid-19, making it extremely difficult for the voices of healthcare professionals to be heard. The implications of this may turn out to be enormous as the virus spreads between and within diverse populations (Ahinkorah et al. 2020). Sub -Saharan Africa – 1 69