Family Planning, Abortion, and HIV in Ghanaian Print Media: A 15-Month Content Analysis of a National Ghanaian Newspaper

Amos K. Laar

Abstract

This study assessed coverage of Reproductive Health (RH) issues—family planning (FP), abortion, and HIV—in the Ghanaian Daily Graphic newspaper. Using the composite week sampling technique, the researcher analyzed the contents of 62 editions of the paper. Prominence was measured using various attributes, and differences in mean coverage over time were assessed using analysis of variance. This review shows that coverage of RH issues was extraordinarily poor, less than 1 percent each for FP, abortion, and HIV. RH news that was covered was given little prominence. These findings support the popular impression that the Daily Graphic does not give priority to reproductive health issues in its coverage. RH advocates need to develop innovative means of integrating RH content into existing media outlets. (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 83-89).

 

Résumé

 

Planification familiale, avortement et VIH dans la presse écrite ghanéenne.  Analyse du contenu couvrant une période de 15 mois d’un journal ghanéen national. Cette étude a évalué la couverture des questions de la santé de reproduction  (SR)—la planification familiale (PF), l’avortement et le VIH – dans le journal ghanéen, Daily Graphic. Les chercheurs ont analysé les contenus des  62 numéros du journal à l’aide de la technique d’échantillon de la semaine composite.  On a mesuré l’importance en se servant des attributs divers et les différences dans les couvertures moyennes à travers le temps ont été évaluées à travers l’analyse des variables.  Cette étude montre que la couverture des questions portant sur la SR était extraordinairement médiocre, moins d’un pourcent chacun pour la PF, l’avortement et le VIH.  Les nouvelles concernant la SR n’ont pas été accordées une attention importante.  Ces résultats ont renforcé l’impression populaire que le Daily Graphic  n’accorde pas de priorité aux affaires qui portent sur la santé de reproduction.  Les défenseurs de la SR doit développer des moyens innovateurs d’intégrer le contenu de la SR dans la presse actuelle (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 83-89).

 

Keywords: Family Planning, Abortion, HIV, Content Analysis, Ghana

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