The study investigated the knowledge and perception of coronavirus among young adults in Southwest, Nigeria. The descriptive research design of the survey type was used in the study. The population of the study consisted of young adults presently living in Southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The sample for this study consisted of 400 parents selected using convenience sampling technique. A self-designed questionnaire tagged “Knowledge and Perception of Coronavirus Questionnaire (KPCVQ)” was used to collect needed data for the study. The instrument was subjected to face and content validity through thorough screening by medical experts and experts of Tests and Measurement. The reliability of the instrument was determined by finding the internal consistency of the instrument using Cronbach alpha which yielded a coefficient value of 0.816. The instrument was administered online by the researcher due to the present lockdown and ban on inter-state travelling. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this study revealed that young adults have high level of knowledge and right perception of coronavirus. It was also revealed that knowledge of coronavirus was related to perception of coronavirus. In addition, knowledge of coronavirus among young adults differs based on their educational status and gender while perception of coronavirus among young adults does not differ based on their educational status and gender. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that agencies of Adult Education through National Orientation Agency (NOA) should embark on sensitisation about the pandemic and negative effect of coronavirus. This will allow young adults who are lowly educated to have adequate knowledge of the virus.

Keywords: Knowledge, Perception, Coronavirus, Young Adults,

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