An Assessment of Media Contribution to Behaviour Change and HIV Prevention in Nigeria

Introduction And Background

Communication has a marked effect on behaviour but research shows that behaviour change rarely happens immediately upon exposure to a message. There are five models of communication effects (knowledge, approval, intention, practice and advocacy) usually employed during behaviour change intervention. However, studies shows that applying these models in changing behaviour especially sexual behaviour is often problematic. Hence, in addressing issues related to sexual behaviour in Nigeria, majority of communicators often utilize the media because of their ability to reach huge and diverse audiences with the notion of developing positive behaviour among their target audiences. The mass media have been a potent strategy used continuously in various interventions to help reduce the spread of HIV in Nigeria and around the world. These mass communication campaigns have employed single or multiple media at the national, state and community levels, either as stand-alone efforts or as part of multi-component programmes. Basically, conventional strategies have often used television, radio, and/or print media while modern campaigns are increasingly incorporating “new media” such as Internet websites. Multi-component campaigns have combined media with numerous “interpersonal” channels such as peer education and outreach, community coalitions, counselling, skill-building workshops, and/or support groups. However, the mass media campaigns are often utilized because of their ability to reach huge and diverse audiences in a cost-effective manner, giving such campaigns tremendous potential as a tool in fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS (Seth, 2007). A key question that often arises about media campaigns, however, is whether or not they are effective in impacting HIV and AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviours. Unfortunately, many HIV and AIDS mass media campaigns have been evaluated using weak research designs which can lead to unreliable or inconclusive results regarding the impact of such campaigns (Seth, 2007).

Moradi, Honari, Naghshbandi, Jabari and Kholouse (2012) discuss the five social functions of the media by McQuail’s thus: information, correlations, continuity, entertainment and mobilization (McQuail, 2010). Information deals with dissemination of issues relating to world events, power relations, progress and innovation. Correlations are referred to explaining and interpreting events, and consensus building. Continuity describes expressing culture and national identity. Entertainment is devoted to relaxation and reducing social tension. Finally, mobilization includes social objectives, politics, war, and the like. Hence, the mass media can manage integration, coordination, control, stability, mobilization, tension, thoughts, values, discipline, and conformity (Mehdizadeh, 2010). Thus the mass media has the power of mobilization of thoughts, values and ability to control people to conform to ethics or change in the society. According to the findings of Moradi et al (2012), the effect of the media can significantly change individuals’ attitudes and behaviour. Based on this description of the media, media content must be designed to appeal to the audience desire if any meaningful behaviour change must take place.