Analysis of Malaria Coverage in Ethiopian Print media: the case of Addis Zemen Amharic Daily Newspaper
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating health issue that is hampering the physical, social and economical
well being of millions of people world wide. In Ethiopia, malaria threatens 68% of the
population and it is reported to be one of the leading reasons why the country hasn’t still
got out of the economic ditch that it is in. On the other hand, there is a growing
acknowledgement that news plays an important role in an interpretation of a disease, in
setting the agenda of the public and in influencing policy makers. With this in mind, the
study is conducted to find out the contribution of Addis Zemen newspaper in creating the
necessary awareness and in providing up-to-date information about malaria to the
community.
The research adopts both quantitative and qualitative methods for the analysis of malaria
coverage in Addis Zemen newspaper. Newspapers appearing between July-Jan of 2006/7
and 2008 are content analyzed for different aspects such as; overall health issues raised,
frequency of coverage, space allotted and sources used. The findings of the content analysis
were supported with results gathered from three kinds of questionnaires and interviews in
order to reach at the current representation of malaria in the newspaper.
The findings of the study reveal that despite the great impact that the disease is causing to
the country, malaria is given poor coverage by the newspaper. The representation of the
disease is also found to be very low. Even when compared with other health issues that are
covered in the newspaper malaria seems to be over shadowed with high profile diseases
such as HIV/AIDS. The study has attempted to find out the possible reasons and it has
also forwarded a recommendation for a better coverage of malaria in the newspaper agency.
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Keywords
Malaria Coverage in Ethiopian