Project Abstract

This study is aimed to ascertain the impact of mass media campaign aimed at curbing the spread of the diseases Aids among teenager in Nkanu Local Government Area, Agbani, Enugu State. The objective of the study is also to find out through sample survey whether the teenager are really getting sufficient information about aids so as to enable them inform their opinion about the diseases. The study gives account of the sex, marital status, occupational variables that were of relevance to the study. The researcher use questionnaire method in execution of the study. This no doubt helps on collecting information as to the way people generally perceived the disease AIDS its wave to Nigeria since the mid 1980s.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The media has been established can provide for audience member a” definition of the situation” on a variety of issues. By emphasizing certain topics the mass media create some distorted impressions with their “definition” portraying a reflection of the red society. For example if sexual promiscuity regularly portrayed as widely practiced, an individual would define his own behaviour in such a situation as norms internalized (Adiey et al., 2006).

Simply by their presence, the mass media have altered the nature of societal communication norm. Large audience have been created that expect the media to provide commentary and other message people depend on the media for various forms of gratification based upon content. If denied such communication, they feel deprived (Agadzi, 1990).

Even in relatively underdeveloped societies population quickly develop .media related habit once mass communication become available to them in form they understand. People become aware of events outside their immediate experience.

People according to Alex (2004) act upon basis of ”the pismires in our head rather than the reality of the world outside.

We have learned through research that he images and worlds the media carry. television, radio and newspapers” determines within the limitation posed by interviewing factors, open of people and their action.

It is believed that in the imperfect world, there is no single antidote to human ills but publicity is often a vital step to findings the cure for many social ills. In this line therefore, it is believed that extensive impact of media and true information on the AIDS campaign will read and perhaps touch on the sexual habit of people. When a disease is sexually transmitted, the publicity and effort to eradicate.

It is fortified, AIDS is the worst disease to hit human race since the black league of the 114th century already caught this awful disease and do not know it, and might not know it for years. (Apoola et al., 2000)

1.2     STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

The role of mass media in any society cannot be over emphasized. It goes beyond the ordinary art and science of news gathering and dissemination to shaping opinion and attitudes of people via proper and accurate analysis and interpretation of news evens. Through their information, education, entertaining and socializing function of mass media impact peoples attitude and behaviour (Goldenberg et al., 1997).

The mass media set agenda for public discussion by chronicling news events with the society. The mass media, no doubt, has changed or altered our culture. News products, advertised to millions via television, magazines, radio and newspaper can achieve wide spread addition almost overnight.

The rapid spread of other culture forms, such as speech mannerism, fades of all kinds, and other invocative patterns, can be triggered by the media.

Different mass media are effective at different pints in different ways. The mass media only create awareness while the face to face communication (Katjavivi and Otoala, 2003).

This implies that the mass media short coming which do not produce their effectiveness n matter how minimal at bringing a about axial change. Lazars field and Katz radio television and print top opinion leaders and form them to the less active section of the population it therefore means that these who cannot be reached by the three media could benefit from interpersonal flow of information or the innovation. -Field and Katz 1955).

Macgurire (1969) Observed that the measured impact of the mass media as regard persuasiveness seems quite slight. A tremendous among the applied research has carried out to test the effectiveness of the news media massage. The outcome which he said been quite embarrassing for proponents of mass media.

In view of this perceived short coming. It therefore becomes very necessary to take a hard work at the role of the mass media campaign against aids vis –a-vis their impact among the teenagers in Enugu state.

However, research is a systematic search of knowledge the media of which a primarily to find solution to existing problems. Proper identification of a problem determines the direction of the study.

Therefore, the problems this research work aims   at solving are:

a. To determine   the   major   sources of   information   regarding   to   AIDS.

b. the   impact o exposure   to AIDS campaign   among   teenagers of   Agbani   in   Nkanu   Local government   area,   in Enugu state.

1.3   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

EFFECT OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST AIDS

1.   The primary aim of this study is to examine the extent of which mass media campaign against AIDS has affected and influence attitude and behavioural change towards sex.

2.   Influence of Mass Media Message

Influence here will therefore be regarded as the ability of the campaign against AIDS to induce the teenagers to change their behaviours to sexual promiscuity and help them also know more about AIDS and suggestion preventive measure.

3.   Interest of the Audience

The study is interested in the audience ie the teenagers. Do their sex and age affect the way they perceived the message? Are they really getting the information (Exposure) or has their level of education got something to do with their behaviour and attitudes to sexual matters.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTION

1.               Do people get most information about AIDS through the mass media?

2.               To what extent has the mass media try to educate teenagers about HIV/AIDS?

3.               Does exposure against AIDS campaign discourage teenagers from sexual promiscuity

4.               Do teenagers who are single exposed themselves to campaign against AIDS more than married ones?

1.5   RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H1:     There is a relationship in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the mass media

H0:     There is no relationship in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the mass media

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

As a result of poor funding, time constraints and convenience, the study shall be limited to teenagers in Enugu state university and is environs.

The researcher hope that through the use of questionnaire and scientific sampling techniques, the results of the study will be generalized to the larger population.

1.7    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is envisaged that the out coming of the study will help to alert the teenagers population on the dangers inherent in AIDS and equally contribute to existing literature in the area of mass media impact.

Also the study will help health ministry to determine which of the mass media to employ in disseminating AIDS information.

Above all, it is hoped that the study will further equip mass media practitioners, communication experts and researchers to come up with at concrete and more futuristic approach to coverage all manners of campaign without much do in Nigeria.

1.8   DEFINITION OF TERMS

The   operational and   Conceptual definition   of terms   in   the study:

Operational   definition  

Mass   media

In the context, refer to various communication channels (specifically a radio, television and newspaper) through which information regarding campaign   against   AIDS communicated to teenagers in   Agbani ,   Nkanu   local   government   area   of Enugu   state.

AIDS

The   four letter   AIDS   stands   for:   Acquired   immune deficiency syndrome . the word   immune   refers to the defense   system of the body which   helps the body to fight all kinds of infections .   This   system does not work well in campaign against   AIDS.

Those   attempt   through the radio television   and   newspapers aimed at   curbing   further   spread   impact.

The range   of data report of new   death by   the   media.

Sex: Sexual activities   amongst   teenagers, men and women   or   man and   man (homosexual ) in   Enugu state.

Young   men and women in Agbani, Enugu   state. Both   indigene and   non – indigene   who   are between the   age of 15 – 40 year.

Conceptual   Definition

1. Mass   Media: it is the media where masses, audience can get information that   contains   emphasis on AIDS   programme.

2.   Media   Impact:   media   impact   on AIDS   has to do with   public   opinion, policy, peoples   comprehensiveness and proper   application and implementation   of   journalism   by   journalists.

3. AIDS: As   a deadly   infection disease

4. Campaign   against AIDS: series   of planned n information to publicize   AIDS   and its preventive   measures.

5.  Sex The activities surrounding, centering on sexual perversion   and leading to coitus .

6. Teenagers: Is collectively   of young men and women

1.9   THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

For suitable theoretical framework for the study, the researcher applied the two way symmetrical method” thus was propounded in 1984 by cunning and Hurt in their book. Mass media campaign against HIV/AIDS.

According to Nwosu (1996) theory stress on using mass media to disseminate the menace of AIDS on teenagers through sexual relationship and how it can be avoided either in the overall mass media programmes or specific mass media project through mutually two way communication with inbuilt feedback between an organization (mass media) and its public (teenagers).

No mass media operates in isolation and by so doing is affected by what communication, mass media can properly manage their relationships with their varies public.